Just as important as blood sugar control by drugs. A healthy cuisine for diabetics

: A modern optimal diet for diabetics offers more than simple control of blood sugar. Rather, it also aims to minimize the additional cardiovascular risk factors that are often present: hypertension and lipometabolic disorders as well as hyperuricemia. An improvement in the prognosis in particular of patients with a full-blown metabolic syndrome can be achieved only by comprehensively treating the various disorders associated with the disease. A specific "diabetic diet" is unknown. For the most part, recommendations focus on an energy-reduced, moderate-fat, high bulk, mixed diet. An additional aim is reduction of overweight with a BMI target of < 25 kg/m2. Since the eating habits of German diabetics are currently far from complying with these recommendations, greater engagement is required not only from the patient, but also from the care-providing physician. The latter should ensure that the patient receives qualified instruction, which can appreciably improve the patient's motivation and cooperation.