Comparison of dietary intake in children with type I diabetes mellitus and controls

ABSTRACT

The purpose of nutritional recommendations for children with type I diabetes mellitus [1DDM] is the control of blood sugar to decrease the long term complications of diabetes such as cardiovascular disease that should be prevented from the early childhood Still there are no precise data on compliance with these recommendations in diabetic children. To compare the dietary intake of children with IDDM and Controls and with current recommendations for children with IDDM. In this case-control study, 143 IDDM children and adolescents aged 4-18 years who visited at least three times a year in our research center were selected by continuous convenient sampling. Their nutrient intake was compared with 147 healthy controls matched for age, sex and area of residence. The nutrient content were analyzed by using the Nutritionist III software package and data were analyzed through SPSS software package [version 6]. P value <0.05 was considered significant. The data are presented as mean [ +/- SD] and frequencies. In the 4-6 years age group, the intake of total calories and fiber, in the 7-10 years age group intake of fiber, fat, protein, carbohydrate, sugar and saturated fatty acid [SFA], also the percentage of calorie intake from, fat, protein, carbohydrate, sugar and SFA, in the 10-14 year age group intake of sugar and fiber, also the energy intake from poly unsaturated fatty acid [PUFA] and sugar and in the 15-18 year age group the intake of fiber, total calorie, protein, carbohydrate and sugar in diabetic children were higher than the control group. In all age groups the energy intake of carbohydrates and fats were in the standard allowance limits, while percentage of energy consumed from protein in all age groups was slightly higher than standard allowances, bringing about the risk of nephropathy in diabetic children. The intake of fiber decreased by age and SFA intake increased by age, so, dietary educational measures on a national basis are needed to change unhealthy eating pattern in our community