role of diet in development of diabetes mellitus

ABSTRACT

Forty six newly-diagnosed maturity-onset male diabetics from Diabetic Center of Health Insurance in Alexandria, and [44] of their non-diabetic siblings were studied. Their anthropometric measurements and dietary habits were recorded. Data revealed that obesity was more prevalent among the new diabetics than their non-diabetic relatives. The new diabetics generally ate more than their sibs with a striking difference in the consumption of total cereals, sugars, sweets and fats. The strongest and most impressive significant difference in the nutritive value of the diet of the two groups was in the consumption of total calories. The new diabetics ingested excessive amounts of food beyond their caloric expenditure. In Conclusion, this study has pointed the finger of suspicion at overeating as a prime factor associating the new emergence of maturity-onset diabetes. The suggestion that any specific dietary constituent is diabetogenic is difficult to conclude from such a study. However, consumption of total carbohydrates especially refined sugar is the more likely culprit