Dietary management of nursing home residents with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

Eighteen residents with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) from two skilled nursing facilities were monitored for glycemic control on diabetic and regular diets provided by the institution. Weekly fasting plasma glucose and 1-d dietary intake were followed for 16 wk: 4 wk on diabetic diets before and after an 8-wk regular-diet period. All residents were in good glycemic control (fasting plasma glucose 7.0 +/- 0.6 mmol/L) at entry into the study. During the regular-diet period, fasting plasma glucose increased an average of 0.6 mmol/L for all residents. Caloric intake increased during the regular-diet period although body weight did not change significantly. In both study periods nutrient intake of the residents met or exceeded the Recommended Dietary Allowances for the age group. These results indicate that the short-term substitution of regular for diabetic diets did not result in gross deterioration of glycemic control in patients with NIDDM confined to chronic-care facilities.