Investigation on Carbohydrate Counting Method in Type 1 Diabetic Patients

OBJECTIVE The results from Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) have propounded the importance of the approach of treatment by medical nutrition when treating diabetes mellitus (DM). During this study, we tried to inquire carbohydrate (Kh) count method's positive effects on the type 1 DM treatment's success as well as on the life quality of the patients. METHODS 22 of 37 type 1 DM patients who applied to Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Faculty of Medicine Hospital, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, had been treated by Kh count method and 15 of them are treated by multiple dosage intensive insulin treatment with applying standard diabetic diet as a control group and both of groups were under close follow-up for 6 months. Required approval was taken from the Ethical Committee of Eskişehir Osmangazi University, Medical Faculty, as well as informed consent from the patients. The body weight of patients who are treated by carbohydrate count method and multiple dosage intensive insulin treatment during the study beginning and after 6-month term, body mass index, and body compositions are analyzed. A short life quality and medical research survey applied. At statistical analysis, t-test, chi-squared test, and Mann-Whitney U test were used. RESULTS There had been no significant change determined at glycemic control indicators between the Kh counting group and the standard diabetic diet and multiple dosage insulin treatment group in our study. CONCLUSION As a result, Kh counting method which offers a flexible nutrition plan to diabetic individuals is a functional method.