Which Nutrition Model Should be Recommended to Individuals with Diabetes?

Abstract

There have been increasing number of studies, which have been looking for “most effective nutrition model in the management of diabetes” since the second quarter of the 1900s. Researches on this subject mostly focuses on “very low calorie diets”, “low-carbohydrate and low-fat diets”, “vegetarian or vegan nutrition”, “DASH dietary model” and “Mediterranean diet model”. In this review, it is aimed to examine the place of dietary and nutritional models in the treatment of diabetes with highlight of the scientific literature. In various guidelines, it is emphasized that Mediterranean, DASH and plant-based diets are examples of healthy nutrition models due to the positive results associated with diabetic individuals. The role of low-carbohydrate diets for diabetes is not clear yet. As a result, the personalized diet plans should focus on individual’s preferences, needs and intentions rather than the recommendation of certain nutritional models.