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The American Diabetes Association has
released new nutritional guidelines for diabetes control,
relaxing dietary restrictions on high sugar content foods.
The association reviews and updates its
dietary advice for diabetics every five to seven years. The
revised recommendations replace those issued in 1994 and are
based on current research findings.
The new guidelines emphasis an evidence
based approach and the importance of total carbohydrate intake,
rather than control of high sugar content foods, and the need
to monitor the exact source of those carbohydrates.
Under the new guidelines, therefore, someone
with diabetes would be able to indulge in an occasional slice
of sugary pie and drink moderate amounts of alcohol without
violating their diet. The current edition discusses carbohydrate
nomenclature as well as nutritional and lifestyle concerns
and contains recommendations for all age groups.
The revised recommendations also debunk
the importance of following diets based on a low glycemic
index. The glycemic index measures how rapidly a particular
food will raise a person's blood sugar level. Diets based
on a low glycemic index have been touted as useful for people
with diabetes.
The nutritional guidelines also recommend
that less than 10% of calorie intake should be derived from
saturated fats and that dietary cholesterol intake should
be no more than 300 mg a day.
Many recommendations are similar to those
for people who do not have diabetes. A moderate daily alcohol
intake poses no threat and may be healthy. Dietary sodium
reduction and weight loss should be tried to lower the risk
of hypertension.
Diabetes Care
January 2002;25:148-98, 200-12
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