Effect of supplementation of instant wheat meal and nutrition education on nutritional status of non insulin dependent female diabetics

Thirty non insulin dependent female diabetics of 40–60 years of age were selected from Punjab Agricultural University Hospital, Ludhiana to study the effect of supplementation of instant wheat meal and nutrition education on the nutritional status of non insulin dependent female diabetics. The subjects were kept under observation for one month period. After one month control period, 125 g of instant wheat meal was given daily to the subjects for a period of 2 months along with nutrition education. The daily diet consumed by the subjects before supplementation was inadequate in foods like pulses, green leafy vegetables, other vegetables and fruits having protective role for diabetes whereas the consumption of foods like cereals, fat, roots vegetables was higher as compared to suggested intake. However, after supplementation, a significant increase in the intake of protective foods and decrease in the intake of cereals, fat and roots vegetables was observed. The mean daily intake of energy, carbohydrates, fats, ascorbic acid, calcium and phosphorus was higher while of protein, fibre and zinc was below the recommendations. After supplementation, the intake of protein, fibre and zinc increased from 52 to 64 g, 28 to 31 g and 7.5 to 9 mg respectively. While a significant decrease in energy from 1955 to 1640 Kcal and in fat from 49 to 30 g was found. After supplementation of instant wheat meal to the diabetic subjects 24 per cent reduction in fasting blood glucose level and 26 per cent in post prandial glucose level of the subjects was found. The per cent reduction of triglycerides, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein cholesterol of the subjects was 7, 8, 12 and 7% respectively. Supplementation of instant wheat meal along with nutrition education is an effective measure to bring about favourable and significant changes in diabetic state.