Diet strategies in the treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease frequently treated in a primary care setting by health care providers. Despite recent advances in the pharmacologic treatment of this disease, the cornerstone of management continues to be nutrition therapy. Familiarity with the basic principles of dietary management and the recently revised American Diabetes Association nutrition recommendations provide a framework for educating patients in the primary care setting. Basic components of the diet, including the latest guidelines concerning the use of sucrose, carbohydrates, fiber, and mineral supplementation, are discussed here. This article also outlines the steps necessary to use this information to individualize the dietary prescription. Assessment guidelines, intervention strategies, and evaluation methods for patient education are reviewed.