Carbohydrate Intake is Associated with Diet Quality in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Recently, high carbohydrate intake has been reported to be related to low diet quality and risk factors of diabetic complications. Traditionally, Koreans consume high quantities of carbohydrates, mainly from white rice. This study was to examine whether excessively high carbohydrate intake (>65% of energy from carbohydrate) was negatively associated with diet balance and quality in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes. Subjects from an ongoing, prospective study (n=948) were classified according to the percent of energy from carbohydrate intake (4 groups: <55%, 55–59%, 60–64%, and ≥65%). A high carbohydrate diet (≥ 65% of energy) was associated with insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia. Most of the nutrient and food group intakes per 1000kcal and diet quality decreased with an increase in the percent of energy from carbohydrates. Excessive carbohydrate intake is related to diabetic complications, which may be through unbalanced and low‐quality diet. Carbohydrate intake that constitutes around 50%–55% of total energy intake and a high‐quality diet with adequate vitamins and minerals that includes protein foods, fruits, and vegetables may be recommended to manage and prevent diabetic complications of patients with type 2 diabetes in populations where white rice is consumed as the main staple food.This work was supported by the Second stage of BK21 Project in 2008 and Seoul R&BD Program, No. 10526.