The effect of long-term high-fibre diets in diabetic outpatients

Diets containing large amounts of dietary fibre have been shown to be beneficial in improving diabetic control. We investigated the practical aspects of administering a high-fibre diet to diabetic outpatients in Cape Town, using readily available, low-cost foodstuffs with a high dietary fibre content. Ten patients were followed up over a period of 9 months, for 3 months of which a high-fibre diet was prescribed. Although only 3 patients approached the projected dietary fibre intake, significant negative correlations were found between the mean plasma glucose changes and the dietary fibre increments (r = 0,704; P less than 0,05) and between the mean serum triglyceride changes and the dietary fibre increments (r = -0,741; P less than 0,05). These findings suggest that, were it not for poor dietary compliance, a high-fibre diet might result in significant improvement in diabetic control, and that education and motivation are of prime importance when making major changes to patients' eating habits.