ARE THE NUTRITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR INSULIN-DEPENDENT DIABETIC-PATIENTS BEING ACHIEVED

Dietary intake was assessed, using a 3-day recorded food diary, in 122 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes. Subjects were selected rand omly from patients attending a diabetic clinic and stratified for age, sex, and duration of diabetes. The findings were compared to the diet ary recommendations of the European Association for the Study of Diabe tes (EASD) and to the findings in a recent Irish National Nutrition Su rvey. The average daily protein intake among diabetic patients was 18 % of the total calories, significantly higher than recommended by EASD and significantly higher than in the age-matched general population. Dietary fat intake was on average 37 % of total calorie intake, again significantly higher than recommended and greater than in the general population among older patients. Saturated fat intake was higher than recommended and polyunsaturated fat intake was low. The average carboh ydrate intake was 42 % of total calories, significantly lower than rec ommended and similar to that in the general population. Sugar intake w as lower and starch intake was higher among patients than in the gener al population, however. Fibre intake was also lower than recommended, but was higher than in the general population. We conclude that the pr esent dietary targets for diabetic patients are not being fully achiev ed.