The danger of low blood sugar during therapy has to be carefully tackled. There are a variety of user-friendly gadgets for home monitoring. Periodic laboratory check-ups are essential for counter checks. Generally, a low fat, high protein diet with normal carbohydrate intake is advised. If the patient does not exercise regularly, carbohydrate content is to be reduced.
Protein is important unless renal disease is present.
A young active diabetic needs around 1800 to 3000 kcal per day. The elderly diabetic needs around 1000 to 1800 kcal, and an obese middle-aged patient needs 1000 to 1600 kcal. This is not a strict classification and there are any number of modifications possible from patient to patient. The intake of protein may be around 60 to 110 gm. That of fat is around 50 to 150 gm and of carbohydrate around 200 gm.