Attitudes toward nutrition and dietary compliance of insulin-dependent diabetics

Dietary adherence, attitudes and blood parameters of fifteen patients with insulin dependent diabetes mellitus were studied for 11 weeks with one follow up session at 22 weeks. Subjects followed a baseline diet for two weeks, a placebo diet for two weeks, and the experimental low-fat diet for the following 6 weeks. Compliance was measured by a 2-day food diary completed each week and again at week 22. Blood samples drawn four times during the study were analyzed for glucose, glycohemoglobin, triglycerides, cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol. Attitudes of individuals were assessed for the degrees of flexibility and rigidity. The attitude score was then compared to compliance ratings. Compliance scores were not correlated significantly with attitudes. The mean glucose and glycohemoglobin were lowered during the study reflecting improved dietary management of the disease.