Subjects in the study initially followed a control diet low in fruits, vegetables, and dairy products, along with a fat intake of 37% of calories (representative of the typical American diet). A multicenter trial, funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) and published in 1997, was conducted to study the effects of dietary patterns on blood pressure in 459 adults with a systolic blood pressure of <160 mmHg and a diastolic blood pressure of 80–95 mmHg.

The DASH eating plan was developed as an approach to help lower blood pressure without the use of medication. This article introduces diabetes educators to the DASH eating pattern in more detail, providing the evidence behind the plan and suggesting practical tips for introducing the DASH eating plan to patients. The appeal of the DASH eating pattern for patients is that it is also practical it does not require special foods or supplements, and it is an approach that is appropriate for patients’ entire family to follow. Clearly, efforts to help prevent and manage hypertension must be increased, especially in the diabetes population. People with diabetes have a higher risk of developing hypertension than people without diabetes in addition, the percentage of adults with diabetes ≥18 years of age who have hypertension was 57.1% in 2009 compared to 46.2% in 1995 ( 2). This dietary approach is a nutritious, balanced, and sustainable eating plan that can improve a number of health parameters, including hypertension, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, and overweight/obesity. This eating plan is one of several eating patterns that is appropriate for diabetes educators to recommend to their patients with diabetes. One of the eating patterns promoted in these recommendations is the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) plan.

The American Diabetes Association, in its 2013 position statement “Nutrition Therapy Recommendations for the Management of Adults With Diabetes,” also promotes the use of a variety of eating patterns to help with the management of diabetes ( 1). Specifically, three food patterns have been developed: the Healthy U.S.-Style Pattern, the Healthy Vegetarian Pattern, and the Healthy Mediterranean-Style Pattern. Department of Agri-culture (USDA) has described several food patterns designed to help people follow the recommendations set forth in its Dietary Guidelines.

Dash diet plan pdf