Nutritional therapy of type 2 diabetes

During the last decade dietary treatment of type 2 diabetes has become more important than ever before because there has been a further increase in the mean body mass index of patients suffering from this disease. In addition to the classical low fat diet, novel diets have been established for dietary treatment of type 2 diabetes, such as carbohydrate-reduced diets or the traditional Mediterranean diet. However, the scientific evidence supporting very low carbohydrate diets is still limited with respect to long-term effects and is not sufficient to replace the current recommendation for a low fat diet. At present, patients with type 2 diabetes have various options for dietary treatment which are equally improving metabolic control. Common components of these diets include moderate energy restriction, high fibre intake, low glycemic index (GI) and modification of fat intake including a reduction of saturated fats and trans-fatty acids. Patients with nephropathy should restrict and modify protein intake.