Commission staff working document - Summary of dietary recommendations for people with diabetes
Date: 2008-07-10
Institutions: European Commission
Subjects: diabetes, dietary product, health legislation, health policy, nutrition, public health, report, therapeutics

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COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES 

Brussels, 10.7.2008 
SEC(2008) 2295 

COMMISSION STAFF WORKING DOCUMENT 

SUMMARY OF DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PEOPLE 
WITH DIABETES 

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SUMMARY OF DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH DIABETES 

This document's aim is to contribute to comprehension of document COM(2008)392 

PAN-EUROPEAN ORGANISATIONS REPRESENTING PEOPLE WITH DIABETES AND/OR THEIR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS 

Body Mass Index 

Total energy intake 

Carbohydrate 

sugars 

fibre 

Fat 

saturated/trans fatty acids 

polyunsaturated fatty acids 

cis-monounsaturated fatty acids 

European Association for the 
Study of Diabetes 2004 
18.5-25 kg/m2 

to achieve or maintain desired 
BMI 
Usually 45-60% total energy 
(Carbohydrates and 
monounsaturates 60-70% total 
energy) 
< 10% total energy 

high-fibre foods 
> 40g/day (or 20g/1000 kcal) 
low glycaemic index foods 
< 35% total energy 

< 10% total energy 

< 10% total energy 

usually10-20% total energy 
(Carbohydrate and 
cis-monounsaturates 
60-70% energy) 

International Diabetes 
Federation (Europe) 1998 
for Type 1 diabetesvii 

International Diabetes 
Federation (Europe) 1999 
for Type 2 diabetesviii 

to achieve or maintain desired 
BMI 
50-55% total energy 

to achieve or maintain desired 
BMI 
carbohydrate-rich diet 

do not need to be excluded but 
often need to be limited 

do not need to be excluded but 
should be limited 

soluble fibre 

soluble fibre 

< 10% total energy 

< 10% total energy 

to balance energy intake 

< 10% total energy 

< 10% total energy 

use to maintain palatability and 
balance energy intake 

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cholesterol 

< 300mg/day 

European Association for the 
Study of Diabetes 2004 

International Diabetes 
Federation (Europe) 1998 
for Type 1 diabetesvii 

International Diabetes 
Federation (Europe) 1999 
for Type 2 diabetesviii 

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Protein 

Alcohol 

Salt:  normotensive 
hypertensive 

Fruit and vegetables 

Non-calorific sweeteners 

European Association for the 
Study of Diabetes 2004 

10-20% total energy 
around 0.8g/kg body weight if 
established nephropathy 

if taken:< 10g/day women 
< 20g/day men 

< 6g/day 
further restriction 
may be of value 
5 + servings/day 

International Diabetes 
Federation (Europe) 1998 
for Type 1 diabetesvii 
< 15% total energy 
< 0.8g/kg body weight if 
incipient or established 
nephropathy 

International Diabetes 
Federation (Europe) 1999 
for Type 2 diabetesviii 
< 15% total energy 
< 0.8g/kg body weight if incipient 
or established nephropathy 

moderate if desired 

if desired as part of energy intake 

- 
< 7g/day 

5 items/day 

- 
< 6g/day 

encouraged as part of mealtime 
energy intake 

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SUMMARY OF DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH DIABETES 

RECOMMENDATIONS BY MEMBER STATES 

France1 

Sweden2 
(Obese type 2 diabetics) 

United Kingdomix 
(2003) 
18.5-24.9 kg/m2 
(depending on waist circumference 
and racial background) 
appropriate to sustain growth in 
children, to prevent or correct 
obesity in adults 
45-60% total energy 
sucrose <10% of total energy 
fructose, provided it is eaten in 
context of a healthy diet. 

< 30% energy 

< 35% total energy 
< 10% energy 

n-6 < 10% energy 
n-3 – eat fish, especially oily fish, 
once or twice weekly 
10-20% total energy 

Body Mass Index 

Total energy intake 

Carbohydrate 
sugars 

35 kcal/kg women 
38 kcal/kg men 

45-55% total energy 
< 10% total energy 

fibre 
Fat 
saturated/trans fatty acids 

polyunsaturated fatty acids 

30-35% total energy 
25% fat intake 
(equals < 10% total energy) 

25% fat intake 
(equals < 10 % total energy) 

cis-monounsaturated 
acids 

fatty 

50% fat intake 
(equals 10-20% total energy) 

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2 

Summary of recommendations provided by French Administration. 
Information provided by Swedish National Food Administration. 

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cholesterol 

Protein 

Alcohol 

Salt 
Fruit and vegetables 

France1 

Sweden2 
(Obese type 2 diabetics) 

1g/kg ideal body weight 
or 10-15% total energy 

United Kingdomix 
(2003) 
< 300mg/day 
(would be expected if saturated fatty 
acids < 10% total energy) 
Not<=1g/kg body weight 

sensible drinking advice as for the 
general population 

< 6g/day 

Non-calorific sweeteners 

Useful for overweight individuals 

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REFERENCES 

vii. 

viii. 

ix. 

European  Diabetes  Policy  Group.  A  desktop  guide  to  Type  1  diabetes  mellitus. 
Diabetic Medicine, 1999, 16: 253-266. 

European  Diabetes  Policy  Group.  A  desktop  guide  to  Type  2  diabetes  mellitus. 
Diabetic Medicine, 1999, 16: 716-730. 

Nutrition Subcommittee of the Diabetes Care, Advisory Committee of Diabetes, UK. 
The  implementation  of  nutritional  advice  for  people  with  diabetes.  Diabetic 
Medicine, 2003, 20: 786-807. 

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