The Effect Of Diet Composition On Weight Gain in Obese, Type 2 Diabetes Patients Receiving Intensive Insulin Therapy

This study was conducted to contribute to the limiting existing body of literature about diet and prevention of weight gain when administering intensive insulin therapy. The effects of a high- monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) diet compared with a conventional diabetic diet have not been studied in insulin treated patients. A growing body of evidence assessed that diets rich in high-MUFA foods had similar glycemic results, as do low-fat, high carbohydrate diets. However, a high-MUFA diet did not raise triglycerides as suspected. Ros (2003) stated that high-MUFA energy controlled diets do not promote weight gain and are more acceptable for weight loss and/or maintenance. A MUFA diet can be used as an alternate to the conventional American Diabetic Association (ADA) diet when managing obese type 2 diabetes patients treated with intensive insulin therapy. Dietary restriction to 1600 calories in diabetes patients on intensive insulin therapy decreased the A1C value by 1.3 points in the ADA group and 1.5 points in the MUFA group without weight gain and without additional insulin required. In conclusion the total calorie count was more important for preventing weight gain and reducing the A1C in patients on intensive insulin therapy than was dietary composition.