[Diet and insulin. Best results with an adjusted schedule]

Hospitalized diabetic patients with vascular disease, showing signs of infection and, perhaps, having had surgery, exhibit profound oscillations in their glucose levels. Better controls need to be followed to account for this variation between meals. To achieve this, the authors modified the meal schedules in a comparative study between two groups of patients that had been admitted to a cardiovascular surgical unit. The variable group consisted of 26 patients (group I) who were given a modified feeding schedule; the sample group that maintained the traditional schedule numbered 20 patients (Group II). All of these individuals have at least a 10 year history of diabetes and averaged 62 years of age. Glucose levels were measured every 6 hours for 20 consecutive days (normal glucose levels were considered 80-250 mg/dl). Results of the experiment were the following. Group I Breakfast 91%, Lunch 72%, Supper 77%, Snack 86%; Group II Breakfast 79%, Lunch 66%, Supper 69%, Bedtime 72%. As these findings indicate, a correct eating schedule for diabetics is a very important aspect in controlling proper blood glucose levels. Part of this work was presented at the VIII National Congress of Vascular Nursing, receiving first prize.