During diabetes mellitus, which of the following should be avoided?

NHM UP Staff Nurse-2023 Shift-2nd

Medical & Surgical Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: NHM UP Staff Nurse-2023 Shift-2nd

Explanation

Nutritive sweeteners, such as table sugar, honey, and corn syrup, contain carbohydrates and calories.
Consumption of these sweeteners leads to their digestion and absorption, causing a rapid increase in blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia).
Effective management of diabetes mellitus requires strict control of carbohydrate intake to prevent sharp fluctuations in blood sugar.
Dietary guidelines for diabetes explicitly recommend avoiding or limiting foods and drinks with added sugars.

Option A: Vitamins are essential micronutrients that do not contain calories or carbohydrates and therefore do not impact blood glucose levels. They are necessary for overall health.
Option B: Minerals are essential inorganic nutrients (e.g., calcium, potassium, magnesium) that are vital for numerous bodily functions. They do not affect blood glucose and are a required part of a balanced diet.
Option C: Proteins are essential macronutrients that have a minimal impact on blood glucose levels. Including protein in meals can help slow carbohydrate absorption and increase satiety, which is beneficial for blood sugar control.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Dietary Management in Diabetes Mellitus as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Patient education is a cornerstone of diabetes management. Nurses must teach patients how to read food labels to identify hidden sugars and nutritive sweeteners.
Understanding the difference between nutritive and non-nutritive sweeteners empowers patients to make informed dietary choices that support glycemic control.
Nurses should advise patients on practical strategies like carbohydrate counting and using the 'plate method' to build balanced meals.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core of the question: what substance negatively impacts blood sugar control in diabetes mellitus?
Analyze each option based on its nutritional properties and metabolic effect.
Recall that vitamins and minerals are micronutrients essential for health and do not provide calories or raise blood sugar. Eliminate these options.
Consider protein. Recall that it is a macronutrient with a minimal effect on blood glucose and is an important part of a balanced diet. Eliminate this option.
Evaluate 'nutritive sweeteners'. The term 'nutritive' implies it provides energy (calories), and 'sweetener' implies sugar. Sugars are simple carbohydrates that rapidly increase blood glucose. This makes it the most likely substance to be avoided.
Confirm the choice: Nutritive sweeteners directly contradict the goal of glycemic control in diabetes, making them the correct answer.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Nutrition Monika Sharma 3e p. 245-247

E6 Nutrition Kumud Khanna 2e p. 337-339