Graduation Year
2023
Document Type
Senior Thesis
Degree
Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Primary Major
Nursing
Thesis Advisor
Patricia Harris, PhD, RN, CNS
Abstract
Diabetes is a major health problem that is becoming an epidemic in major countries of the world. Diabetes can affect people of all ages and of all races. However, there is a higher risk of developing diabetes for certain groups of people. As of today, there is still no cure for diabetes. The treatment plan for patients diagnosed with diabetes is to control the level of blood glucose through different interventions. The progression of diabetes is influenced by food behaviors, and diet control is an important aspect of management of this disease. There are different types of diet recommended that will not affect blood glucose levels. However, these types of diets do not coincide with many people's culture and dietary habits. This paper consists of six studies that explores the effect of different types of diet on maintaining or preventing DM2. Studies are divided into two categories: weight loss targeted diet and disease specific to ethnic groups. Studies from both categories show positive effects on the glycemic index of individuals with Diabetes Mellitus Type 2. The studies in this literature highlights the effects of diets that are fiber-rich diets rich in fiber, but carbohydrate rich diets, on which some cultures rely, are not included. Further research is needed. A research proposal is described at the end of this paper.