HIGH CARBOHYDRATE DIET IN TREATMENT OF DIABETES MELLITUS

Restriction of carbohydrate in the diet of diabetics is widely advocated and practised in the Western Countries, but poses a special problem in the treatment of vegetarian diabetic patients in India, since cereals like wheat and rice constitute the major bulk of their diet. Drastic changes in the diet may be needed to curtail carbohydrate intake. 25 adult-onset diabetic patients were therefore allowed to eat their customary diet, and the control of their diabetes was studied. Restrictions were made only in the total caloric intake, where needed, by curtailing fats. The average carbohydrate consumption was 342 g, constituting 67% of the average total caloric intake. Prompt and adequate clinical and biochemical control of diabetes could be achieved by a moderate dose of oral hypoglycaemie agents or insulin, and maintained during their followup period of 6 months to 8 years without any difficulty despite their high carbohydrate intake. Avantages of such a diet are enumerated. © 1969 Springer-Verlag.