PDA-assisted low glycemic index dietary intervention for type II diabetes: a pilot study

• Published in: European journal of clinical nutrition Vol. 60; no. 10; pp. 1235 - 1243
• Main Authors: Ma, Y, Olendzki, B.C, Chiriboga, D, Rosal, M, Sinagra, E, Crawford, S, Hafner, A.R, Pagoto, S.L, Magner, R.P, Ockene, I.S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basingstoke Nature Publishing 01.10.2006; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological and medical sciences; blood glucose; Blood Glucose - metabolism; Blood pressure; Body weight; Computers, Handheld; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - diet therapy; Diabetes. Impaired glucose tolerance; Diet; diet therapy; Dietary Carbohydrates - administration & dosage; Dietary Carbohydrates - classification; Dietary Carbohydrates - metabolism; Dietary intake; Diseases of the digestive system; Endocrine pancreas. Apud cells (diseases); Endocrinopathies; Epidemiology; Etiopathogenesis. Screening. Investigations. Target tissue resistance; Feasibility; Feasibility studies; Female; food databases; Food intake; foods; Glycated Hemoglobin A - analysis; Glycemic Index; Health education; Hemoglobin; Humans; Intervention; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; microcomputers; Middle Aged; monitoring; noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus; Nutrient deficiency; Nutrition; nutritional intervention; Nutritionists; Patients; Personal digital assistants; Pilot Projects; Quality of life; Radiotherapy. Instrumental treatment. Physiotherapy. Reeducation. Rehabilitation, orthophony, crenotherapy. Diet therapy and various other treatments (general aspects); Treatment Outcome; Endocrinopathy; Type 2 diabetes; Pilot; Diet therapy; Nutrition; Diet; Low; Metabolic diseases; Glycemic index; diabetes mellitus; PDA; Feeding
• ISSN: 0954-3007; 1476-5640
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.ejcn.1602443

Background: Epidemiological and dietary intervention studies suggest that a low-glycemic index (GI) diet is beneficial for blood glucose control; however, long-term clinical utility of the low GI diet has not been fully investigated. Objectives: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a nutritionist-delivered low-GI dietary intervention, with the support of a personal digital assistant (PDA), for adult patients with poorly controlled type II diabetes. Method: The low-GI intervention consisted of six counseling sessions and the use of a PDA-based food database with GI scores for 6 months. Study outcomes included feasibility measures, glycosylated hemoglobin levels (HbA1c), GI and glycemic load (GL) score of self-reported dietary intake, body weight, depression and quality of life (QOL). Measures were obtained at baseline, 3 and 6 months. Results: Of 31 adult patients approached, 15 met study eligibility criteria and were enrolled in the study. Thirteen patients (87%) completed all study assessments. Findings included decreases in average HbA1c (-0.5% P=0.02), body weight, hip circumference, blood pressure, dietary GI and daily caloric intake. Diabetes impact scores also decreased. All but one participant completed all components of the intervention. There were mixed reports regarding the usefulness of the PDAs; however, participants offered helpful suggestions for further development. Conclusions: Results of this pilot study support the feasibility of implementing a nutritionist-delivered, PDA-assisted low-GI dietary intervention for patients with poorly controlled type II diabetes. Encouraging initial efficacy data require further testing in the context of a randomized clinical trial.