Nutrition and diabetes control: advice for non-dietitians

Diabetes mellitus affects 2-4% of the UK population and its prevalence is predicted to double by 2010. It has been widely acknowledged that dietary therapy can reduce the risk of complications in people with diabetes. However, as there are insufficient diabetes specialist dietitians to deliver dietary advice to all people with diabetes, the burden of care will fall on the primary care team. Dietary advice given to people with diabetes by healthcare professionals needs to be consistent. As recommendations change with new evidence, professionals have a duty to update their knowledge. This article reviews current nutritional recommendations from the UK, Europe and the USA and offers suggestions for translating dietary theory into practice. It emphasizes the importance of an individual approach, taking into account usual eating patterns, lifestyle, age, culture and medication.