Comparision of a medical nutrition therapy and carbohydrate counting method and their effects on blood glucose regulation, blood lipids and body mass index patients withs type 2 diabetics using oral antidiabetic

The most important components for a successful medical treatment of Type 2 diabets mellitus are nutrition and meal planning. Caloric diet treatment and carbonhydrate counting, which has been gaining popularity for the last years, are the two methods deployed to this end. The objective of this research is to compare medical nutrition treatment that is based on calorie accounting and carbohydrate counting method and their effect on body mass index, blood glucose regulation and blood lipids. This study was carried out on 15 chosen patients ( 3 men, 12 women) with Type 2 diabets mellitus who were 20-70 years old and diabetic duration of 1-10 years, had HbA1c levels between 6-8% and have been using sulfanilurea and/or metformin as oral antidiabetic. The patients were observed for 6 months. During the first phase of the study, medical nutrition therapy based on calorie accounting was used in patients for 3 months and second phase consisted of carbohydrate counting method. Body weight was measured at each visit; fasting and postprandial blood glucose samples were taken at the end of each month; HbA1c, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides measurements were obtained at the baseline and at the end of each phase. Parametric measurements examined for baseline and after medical nutrition therapy indicate significant reductions on body weight, BMI, fasting and postprandial blood glucose, HbA1c levels (p<0,05) compared to baseline levels. There were no significant reductions on total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides (p>0,05). LDL cholesterol levels was increased compared to the baseline. With carbohydrate counting method, body weight, BMI, HbA1c levels (p<0,05) reduced significantly, although decrease in fasting blood glucose, postprandial blood glucose, total and LDL cholesterol and triglyceride increase in HDL cholesterol is not meaningful statistically (p>0,05). When diet strategies are compared the decrease in HbA1c level, fasting and postprandial blood glucose with medical nutrition therapy is different from carbohydrate counting method is also meaningful statistically (p<0,05).Key Words: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, medical nutrition therapy, carbohydrate counting