Abstract: Objective To explore the effect of nutritional intervention based on food exchange portion method combined with cooking practice education for main family members in the management of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods Sixty-seven T2DM patients were randomly divided into observation group (n=33) and control group (n=34). Patients in the control group received nutritional intervention based on food exchange portion method and exercise guidance and additional cooking practice education was performed for main family members of patients in the observation group. The changes of fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2h plasma glucose (2 h PG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), low density lipoprotein (LDL-C) and high density lipoprotein (HDL-C) were compared between the two groups before the start of the trial and at the end of 6-month follow-up. Results After 6 months of intervention, blood glucose and blood lipid were improved in both groups, especially in the observation group, except HDL-C (P<0.05). Except for the score of standardized cooking in the control group, the compliance scores of other dietary treatments were increased (P<0.01), especially in the observation group (P<0.01).The satisfaction score in the two groups was significantly increased after the intervention(P<0.01), particularly in the observation group (P<0.01). Conclusion Nutritional intervention based on food exchange portion method combined with cooking practice education for main family members is helpful for blood glucose control, lowering blood lipid and improving dietary treatment compliance and patients' satisfaction with medical care, which can be widely popularized in family education for diabetic patients.

Key words: cooking practice education, diabetes, main family member, food exchange portion method