Dietary fiber in foods: options for diabetes education

Diet therapy for the treatment of diabetes often dictates that individuals limit their intake of foods high in fats or sugars. The addition of fibrous foods may be appealing to this population. During the past two decades, clinical investigations have attempted to characterize the benefits of dietary fiber for diabetes. Interpretation of the data and implications for practical application have sometimes been controversial. As results of more clinical trials appear in the literature, a convergent validity is emerging. Evidence that soluble dietary fibers are a food component associated with health benefits is supported by recent investigations. A flexible approach for inclusion of dietary fiber in the diets of individuals with diabetes may be used.