Nutrition Therapy Flashcards

Which dietary fat type is most strongly associated with increased LDL cholesterol in people with diabetes?

Answer: Saturated fat

Saturated fat raises LDL cholesterol and should be limited to less than 10% of total calories in people with diabetes.

A patient with type 2 diabetes asks about using a low-carbohydrate diet. What is the minimum carbohydrate intake generally recommended to prevent ketosis in most adults?

Answer: 130 g/day

The RDA for carbohydrate is 130 g/day, which is the minimum needed to supply the brain with glucose without relying on ketone bodies.

Which sweetener, when consumed in large amounts, can cause a laxative effect and may raise blood glucose slightly in some individuals?

Answer: Sugar alcohols (polyols)

Sugar alcohols are partially absorbed and can cause GI distress in large amounts; they also have a modest effect on blood glucose.

The glycemic index (GI) of a food is primarily determined by:

Answer: How quickly it raises blood glucose compared to pure glucose

GI ranks foods on a scale of 0–100 based on how quickly and how much they raise blood glucose compared to a reference food (pure glucose or white bread).

For a patient with diabetic nephropathy and an eGFR of 30 mL/min, which dietary modification is most critical?

Answer: Restrict protein to 0.6–0.8 g/kg/day

Protein restriction to 0.6–0.8 g/kg/day is recommended for CKD patients to slow progression of nephropathy.

Which vitamin or mineral supplementation is specifically recommended for patients with type 2 diabetes who are on long-term metformin therapy?

Answer: Vitamin B12

Metformin reduces vitamin B12 absorption, so long-term users should have B12 levels monitored and supplement if deficient.

When counseling a patient about the Mediterranean diet for diabetes management, which food group is emphasized as the primary fat source?

Answer: Olive oil

The Mediterranean diet uses olive oil as the main fat source, providing heart-healthy monounsaturated fats beneficial for people with diabetes.