Survey of dietary policy and management in British diabetic clinics

Questionnaires about dietary policy were sent to 471 physicians in diabetic clinics throughout the United Kingdom, and usable replies were received from 281. Insulin-dependent patients were mostly taught to use carbohydrate-exchange units in regulating their diets; this method was used less often for maturity-onset diabetics. Restriction of sucrose and foods containing concentrated sugars was more rigorous in clinics in teaching hospitals than elsewhere; paediatric clinics were the most liberal. Maturity onset diabetics were generally advised to restrict their fat intake, but most clinics did not restrict fat for their insulin-dependent patients. Again teaching-hospital clinics were the most restrictive. Patients were rarely encouraged to weigh their food. In general physicians thought that insulin-dependent patients adhered to their diets but maturity-onset patients did not. There is uncertainty about the ideal dietary policy for diabetics and the best way of helping patients to follow the regimen prescribed.