Question

Case Study #12 – Nutrition for Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Keisha is a 42-year-old black female with a BMI of 29. She was recently diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension. Her mother and two sisters also have type 2 diabetes. She is the mother of three children, who each weighed more than 10 pounds at birth. Although she knows she should exercise, she doesn’t have time in her busy schedule. The doctor gave her a 1500-calorie diet and told her if her glucose does not improve, she will have to go on medication and, possibly, insulin. She has tried the “diet” but finds it too restrictive: it tells her to eat things she doesn’t like (such as milk) and won’t let her eat the things she loves (like sweetened tea and fast foods). She is scared of the potential for needing insulin and the complications associated with diabetes.

■ What risk factors does Keisha have for type 2 diabetes?

■ Is a 1500-calorie diet appropriate for her? Should it promote weight loss or maintain her current weight?

■ What would you tell Keisha about weight and diabetes management?

■ What would you tell her about drinking milk? What about sweetened tea and fast foods?

■ What approaches would you take to improve compliance yet increase her satisfaction with eating?

■ What other lifestyle changes would you propose to Keisha to manage diabetes and reduce the risk of complications?

Answer 1

Answer: The risk factors Keisha have for type 2 diabetes are:

1. Obesity
2. Genetic diabetic conditions
3. Poor health nutrition intake
4. Poor lifestyle.

The 1500 calorie is too much and will not support the weight loss. According to her BMI she is obese and need to lose weight. For weight loss she needs to tak up our 1000calorie per day.

The overweight people are at high risk of developing cheonic diseases, so she need to manage the weight. The decrease weight could lead to manage the diabetic conditions. The main factors should be adopting healthy lifestyle, increasing the fibres intake, exercising.

She need to understand that milk is important and should consume it daily. She should avoid drinking tea or having fast food for weight management. The tea and sugar should be avoides completely to manage the diabetes too.