Illustrated eating plan as a strategy for adherence to carbohydrate counting in patients with diabetes mellitus

The carbohydrate counting method is an effective meal planning tool used in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients that focuses on carbohydrates as the main nutrient that affects the glycemic response. Therefore, this study aims to develop a nutritional therapy with carbohydrate counting, providing the inclusion of patients with DM on insulin therapy. This is a clinical-longitudinal and descriptive study, carried out on patients diagnosed with insulin-dependent type 1 or 2 DM, treated at a reference university hospital, in Belém/Pará. It was found that there was a reduction in weight and BMI until the fourth consultation, with an increase in the fifth. Average fasting glucose and total cholesterol decreased significantly throughout the consultations. However, systolic blood pressure and TGO levels showed variations, highlighting the need for continuous monitoring. This study demonstrated the benefits of technology in helping glycemic control in insulin-dependent patients.