Objective: To determine the percentages of total, simple and complex carbohydrates (CH) in the diet of a group of type II diabetics and to compare them with the recommended standards.
Design: Crossover study.
Setting: Primary Care Centre at Ciutat Badia.
Target population: 436.
Sample: 205. Exclusions and drop-outs: 63.
Measurements and results: Habitual intake was calculated by means of three dietary recordings over 24 hours. Average daily kilocalories were 1,757 kcal. 86.3% of the sample consumed a percentage of total CH below that recommended. Only 3.1% of the sample consumed a percentage of complex CH above the recommended minimum, while 70.2% of the sample consumed a percentage of simple CH above the recommended.
Conclusions: The diabetic patients attended at our centre do not follow present dietary recommendations regarding the distribution of CH. New educational strategies adapted to the characteristics of this population must be worked out.