Epidemiological and clinical studies on optimal nutrition in diabetes

There would seem to be little doubt that a diet high in fiber-rich carbohydrate can improve diabetic control and reduce levels of LDL cholesterol when compared with the more traditional low carbohydrate-high fat diabetic diet. The abnormalities of platelet function in diabetes and their association with certain essential fatty acids suggest that attention to the nature of the fat composition of the diet may be equally relevant in attempts to reduce the frequency of both micro- and macrovascular complications of diabetes. Only a very limited number of intervention studies have been carried out. More information is urgently required concerning the effects of modifying the fatty acid composition of the diabetic diet.