Response to the Diabetes Nutrition Study Group of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes
- Marion J. Franz, MS, RD, CDE and
- John P. Bantle, MD
- Co-chair American Diabetes Association Nutrition Principles and Recommendations Task Force
We welcome the European perspective, although we do not completely share it. We agree with the statement of Mann et al. (1) that “meticulously conducted and controlled human studies of people with diabetes that involve dietary manipulations over a period of weeks or months… provide the most powerful evidence.” However, we take issue with several concerns they express. First, we take issue with the statement that it is important to consider how recommendations are likely to be interpreted by health professionals and patients. Second, we continue to believe that the total amount of carbohydrate is more important than the source or type. Third, we continue to believe that sucrose does not need to be restricted, relative to other carbohydrates, because of concern about aggravating hyperglycemia.
It was an initial determination of the American Diabetes Association Task Force that it was our task to write, as accurately as possible, evidence-based nutrition principles and recommendations. The implementation of these principles and recommendations was to be determined by health professionals in their individualized nutrition counseling with patients. Furthermore, we concluded that patients have the right to read and know accurate nutrition information. With this …
