Joe comes in to see the diabetic nurse educator with questions about his diet. He is 6'3" tall and weighs 200 pounds. He walks to and from work (about 2 miles) daily and tries to eat a healthy diet

Question

He recently changed jobs and now is involved with fieldwork that involves much more exercise. He is concerned because recently he has begun to feel fatigued during the day and several times felt dizzy in the afternoon. He is following a low-carbohydrate low-fat diet. The nurse explains that: 1. A low-carbohydrate diet is good for diabetics and has been shown to improve glucose control.
2. A low-fat diet has been proven to increase the rate of metabolism in diabetic clients and help with weight control.
3. Increased exercise is beneficial for clients with diabetes but should be increased very slowly over time.
4. Diets that restrict calories from specific food groups are not recommended for diabetics and could result in hypoglycemia especially with increased exercise.

Answer 1

4
Rationale: Low carbohydrate diets should be avoided by client's with diabetes because of the increase of LDL cholesterol that results and the increased risk for developing heart disease. The American Diabetic Association recommends that 60–70% of daily calories are comprised of carbohydrates and monounsaturated fats, while trans fat should be avoided. Increased exercise, reduction in daily calories, and developing strategies to avoid barriers to previous weight loss attempts are the recommended initial steps for a successful weight loss program. Diets that restrict calories from specific food groups are not recommended for diabetics and could result in episodes of hypoglycemia especially with the increased energy demands during increased exercise.