A Special Diet in the Family

Since there are many diseases and errors of metabolism which result in the individual being unable to cope with a normal diet, only diabetes and coeliac diseases were examined in the ensuing survey. The two diets chosen represent different aspects of adjusting to a special diet. Diabetes involves regulation of intake of all carbohydrate foods, whereas coeliacs can eat as much as they like of some foods but nothing that contains gluten. The specific areas studied outlined the problems involved in adjusting to a special diet, in relation to the type of help available when the diet is prescribed. This included collecting a representative selection of literature connected with special diets and considering them in respect of their ability to help patients understand their diet; a small amount of gluten free recipe testing and diabetic menu planning; and a pilot questionnaire survey of patients in the South East.