Abstract
An integral part of the DIACON (Diabetes Control System) is the nutritional analysis. Data are entered into the computer at each visit. Medical data are entered with the help of the nurse. The dietician together with the patient enter data 'on daily food intake and the time of consumption using a code relating to different foods. The program calculates calories, CHO, fat and protein in grams and percentage and their distribution among the daily meals. The data are printed out as tables and histograms. These data can be related to the daily blood glucose (BG) levels obtained by SBGM, daily insulin dose, HbA1, exercise, etc.
This system was tried for 2 yrs in 24 newly diagnosed diabetic children and for 6 mos in 10 recently diagnosed diabetics and 10 matched controls and 6 obese children. The system was readily accepted by the patients who encountered no difficulty in using it routinely. Its use increased the patient's involvement in the analysis and interpretation of dietary habits and BG fluctuations. The diabetic patients using DIACON were more compliant, performed a greater number of SBGM tests than others (2.4±0.8 vs 1.67±0.8 BG tests/day)and had lower daily BG levels (140±23 vs 153±25 mg/dl), lower HbA1 (9.05 vs 10.3%). The patients using DIACON had a better understanding of nutritional needs. It is concluded that the DIACON system is a useful new tool in the management of diabetes and probably of obesity as well.
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Faiman, G., Flexer, Z., Fainmesser, P. et al. A MICROCOMPUTER PROGRAM AS AN AID IN NUTRITIONAL COUNSELLING AND FOLLOW-UP IN DIABETES AND OBESITY. Pediatr Res 20, 1186 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198611000-00077
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198611000-00077