[Relationship between nutrition factors and glycemic control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes mellitus].

OBJECTIVE To identify nutritional factors that affected the glycemic control of the studied population. SUBJECTS AND METHODS One hundred forty-six children and adolescents, aged 7 to 19 years, followed-up at the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology of the Hospital das Clínicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais participated in the study.The diet of each participant was evaluated by means of a Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire, previously validated in a pilot-project. Glycemic control was assessed through the average of HbA1c results obtained six months prior to date of diet evaluation. RESULTS Diets with high protein content, less saturated fats, and lower glycemic index (GI)/glycemic load (GL) had a positive effect on glycemic control. The consumption of sucrose and of free snacks provided by the school had a negative influence on glycemic control. CONCLUSION The consumption of nutritionally adequate and low GI/GL diets favored glycemic control of the studied population.