Effects of basic carbohydrate counting versus standard outpatient nutritional education (The BCC Study): study protocol for a randomised, parallel open-label, intervention study focusing on HbA1c and glucose variability in patients with type 2 diabetes

The Impact of Using Carbohydrate Counting on Managing Diabetic Patients: A Review

Carbohydrate counting (CC) is a meal planning practice for diabetic patients, focusing on tracking the amount of carbohydrates in grams consumed at meals to manage blood glucose (BG) levels. The purpose of this narrative review is to evaluate the impact of CC in helping people with diabetes manage their condition. It reveals that CC offers superior glycemic control and flexibility compared to other food planning techniques. Specifically, when applied to children and teenage patients diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), CC demonstrates the potential for substantial improvements in metabolic control without any adverse effects on weight or increased insulin requirements. In the context of T1DM, the combination of CC and the use of automated bolus calculators (ABCs) contributes to lowering glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels. Furthermore, the study highlights that CC also holds promise in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In T2DM patients, adhering to a low glycemic index (GI) diet has proven to be more effective in controlling HbA1c and fasting BG levels compared to a higher GI diet or standard dietary control. This research underscores the evolving significance of CC as a pivotal component in diabetes management, attributed to increased awareness and education among patients. CC emerges as a versatile tool that can benefit individuals with various forms of diabetes by enhancing their glycemic control and overall quality of life. The findings affirm the impact of CC in improving patient outcomes, solidifying its status as a vital strategy in the multifaceted landscape of diabetes care.

Nutritional management of type 2 diabetes in subjects with obesity: an international guideline for clinical practice

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity represent a global public health problem. Current nutritional recommendations focused on weight loss and overall dietary quality. However, there is no consensus on the optimal macronutrient composition of the diet, particularly for the long-term management of T2DM in subjects with obesity. An international panel of experts reviewed and critically appraised the updated literature published on the topic. This review primarily examines the evidence for areas of consensus and uncertainty about nutritional therapy in patients with T2DM and obesity. The aim of this article is to provide nutritional advice to manage these patients in clinical practice.

The Association between Diabetes Education and Glucose Control in Diabetic Patients: Using the 2008 and 2013 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

This study was conducted to investigate the status of diabetes education in Korean diabetics and to analyze the association between blood sugar control and diabetes education. A total of 1,904 diabetic patients was classified into two groups (well-controlled group and uncontrolled group) using the 2008-2013 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey data, and various variables were compared. Of the 1,904 patients, 15.9% had received diabetes education. The uncontrolled group had a low economic level, a high rate of drinking and obesity, and a low rate of moderate exercise. And the rate of drug treatment in the uncontrolled group was high, and the rate of education and nutrition education, and the total number of educations for diabetes were significantly lower than those in the control group. Factors affecting blood glucose control were analyzed drinking (odds ratio [OR], 1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06–1.7), moderate exercise (OR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.34–0.6), overweight and obesity (OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.17–1.78), duration of diagnosis (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.05–1.08), treatment method (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.45–2.77), nutritional education (OR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.46–0.85), and education institution (OR, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.54–0.93). The results of this study support that education on lifestyle management, such as a balanced diet, regular exercise, and normal weight maintenance, is essential for blood glucose control, and patients with long-term treatment need cyclic and continuous education.