Diabetes Mellitus and Functional Food

Abstract

As the number of diabetes cases increases, prevention and treatment are more important. The food industry continues to research and develop safer blood sugar-lowering agents using natural products and anti-diabetic foods. Functional foods (FFs) are those that can be expected to provide specific health effects. Although patients do not recognize FFs as medicines, they perceive them to be healthier than regular foods. However, lack of control of food can lead to side effects such as worsening diabetes and increasing complications, in addition to economic losses due to excessive cost. Therefore, diabetes educators need to provide proper information to inform patients on studying ingredients before consuming FFs and to recognize problems of excessive consumption. It is assumed that FFs are consumed properly without abuse, and that nutrition therapy, exercise, and drug therapy are the basics of diabetics control.