Diabetes Nutrition and Diet 4 â Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which protein source is considered most beneficial for kidney health in a person with diabetic nephropathy?
- Red processed meat
- Plant-based protein from legumes (Correct answer)
- High-sodium canned fish
- Organ meats
Correct answer: Plant-based protein from legumes
Plant-based proteins from legumes produce less metabolic waste than animal proteins and are associated with slower progression of diabetic kidney disease.
Question 2: When reading a nutrition label, a person with diabetes should pay most attention to which value for carbohydrate assessment?
- Calories per serving
- Total carbohydrates including sugar and fiber (Correct answer)
- Percent Daily Value for carbohydrates
- Grams of protein
Correct answer: Total carbohydrates including sugar and fiber
Total carbohydratesâincluding all sugars and fiberâdirectly impact blood glucose, so this value is the most critical for carbohydrate counting.
Question 3: Which type of dietary fiber is most effective at lowering post-meal blood glucose spikes?
- Insoluble fiber from wheat bran
- Soluble fiber from oats and beans (Correct answer)
- Cellulose from leafy greens
- Lignin from woody vegetables
Correct answer: Soluble fiber from oats and beans
Soluble fiber forms a gel in the gut that slows carbohydrate digestion and blunts post-meal glucose peaks.
Question 4: A person with diabetes is eating at a restaurant. Which menu choice is the BEST for blood sugar management?
- Pasta with cream sauce
- Grilled salmon with steamed vegetables (Correct answer)
- White rice with teriyaki chicken
- Large slice of pizza
Correct answer: Grilled salmon with steamed vegetables
Grilled salmon provides omega-3 fatty acids and protein while steamed vegetables offer fiber with minimal carbohydrates, supporting stable blood glucose.
Question 5: Which vitamin deficiency is particularly common in people with Type 2 diabetes taking metformin, and requires dietary attention?
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin B12 (Correct answer)
- Vitamin K
Correct answer: Vitamin B12
Metformin reduces absorption of Vitamin B12 in the gut, increasing the risk of B12 deficiency which can cause neuropathy.
Question 6: What is the primary purpose of using the 'diabetes plate method' for meal planning?
- To count exact calorie intake at every meal
- To visually portion non-starchy vegetables, protein, and carbohydrates without counting (Correct answer)
- To eliminate all carbohydrates from the diet
- To require weighing all food before eating
Correct answer: To visually portion non-starchy vegetables, protein, and carbohydrates without counting
The diabetes plate method uses a standard dinner plate divided into visual sections to guide healthy portion sizes without requiring precise measuring or counting.
Question 7: Cinnamon has been studied as a potential aid for diabetes management. Current evidence suggests it may:
- Replace insulin therapy in Type 1 diabetes
- Modestly improve fasting blood glucose in some Type 2 patients (Correct answer)
- Cure diabetes when taken daily
- Significantly reduce HbA1c by more than 2%
Correct answer: Modestly improve fasting blood glucose in some Type 2 patients
Some studies show cinnamon can modestly lower fasting blood glucose in Type 2 diabetes, but evidence is inconsistent and it should not replace medications.
Diabetes Nutrition and Diet 4
Which protein source is considered most beneficial for kidney health in a person with diabetic nephropathy?