Evaluation of a psycho-educational nutritional program in diabetic patients

In this study, we have retrospectively (2 years) assessed the efficacy of the nutritional education (NE) program provided to 83 diabetic patients during an in-hospital training week. Two years after NE, type 1 diabetic patients have decreased significantly their total caloric intake, protein (P < 0.05) and fat consumption. Type 2a diabetic patients disclosed a significant increase in CHO consumption while type 2b diabetic patients decreased their fat consumption, SFA consumption and total caloric intake. The percentage of patients following the European Association Study for Diabetes (EASD) nutritional recommendations regarding fat intake has increased significantly in all three diabetic groups and in type 2a diabetic patients regarding CHO consumption. In conclusion, a psycho-educational nutritional education program of 1 week allows a significant improvement of the alimentary behavior 2 years thereafter with 45% of the diabetic patients following the cur-rent EASD dietary recommendations. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.