Margaret A. Powers

The Evidence for Medical Nutrition Therapy for Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes in Adults

This article reviews the evidence and nutrition practice recommendations from the American Dietetic Associations nutrition practice guidelines for type 1 and type 2 diabetes in adults. The research literature was reviewed to answer nutrition practice questions and resulted in 29 recommendations. Here, we present the recommendations and provide a comprehensive and systematic review of the evidence associated with their development. Major nutrition therapy factors reviewed are carbohydrate (intake, sucrose, non-nutritive sweeteners, glycemic index, and fiber), protein intake, cardiovascular disease, and weight management. Contributing factors to nutrition therapy reviewed are physical activity and glucose monitoring. Based on individualized nutrition therapy client/patient goals and lifestyle changes the client/patient is willing and able to make, registered dietitians can select appropriate interventions based on key recommendations that include consistency in day-to-day carbohydrate intake, adjusting insulin doses to match carbohydrate intake, substitution of sucrose-containing foods, usual protein intake, cardioprotective nutrition interventions, weight management strategies, regular physical activity, and use of self-monitored blood glucose data. The evidence is strong that medical nutrition therapy provided by registered dietitians is an effective and essential therapy in the management of diabetes.

Diabetes Self-management Education and Support in Type 2 Diabetes: A Joint Position Statement of the American Diabetes Association, the American Association of Diabetes Educators, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

D IABETES ISACHRONICDISEASE that requires a person with diabetes to make a multitude of daily self-management decisions and to perform complex care activities. Diabetes self-management education and support (DSME/S) provides the foundation to help people with diabetes to navigate these decisions and activities and has been shown to improve health outcomes. Diabetes self-management education (DSME) is the process of facilitating the knowledge, skill, and ability necessary for diabetes self-care. Diabetes selfmanagement support (DSMS) refers to the support that is required for implementing and sustaining coping skills and behaviors needed to self-manage on an ongoing basis. (See further definitions in Figure 1.) Although different members of the health care team and community can contribute to this process, it is important for health care providers and their practice settings to have the resources and a systematic referral process to ensure that patients with type 2 diabetes receive both DSME and DSMS in a consistent manner. The initial

Evidence-Based Nutrition Practice Guidelines for Diabetes and Scope and Standards of Practice

In the 1990s, the American Dietetic Association (ADA) began developing nutrition practice guidelines for registered dietitians (RDs) and evaluating how their use affected clinical outcomes. Clinical trials and outcomes research report that diabetes medical nutrition therapy, delivered using a variety of nutrition interventions and multiple encounters, is effective in improving glycemic and other metabolic outcomes. The process of developing nutrition practice guidelines has evolved into evidence-based nutrition practice guidelines, which are disease/condition-specific recommendations and toolkits. An expert work group identified important clinical questions related to diabetes nutrition therapy. Research studies were analyzed and evidence summaries and conclusion statements written and graded for strength of research design. Based on the research conclusions, evidence-based nutrition recommendations and guidelines for adults with type 1 and type 2 diabetes were formulated. The ADA evidence-based nutrition practice guidelines for diabetes are published in the Web-based evidence analysis library. The recommendations are similar to those of the American Diabetes Association, although developed using a different method. To define the RDs professional practice, the ADA has published the Scope of Dietetics Practice Framework, the Standards of Practice and Standards of Professional Performance, and specialized standards for the RD in diabetes nutrition care. The latter defines the knowledge, skills, and competencies required by RDs to provide diabetes care at the generalist, specialist, and advanced practice level.

Diabetes Self-management Education and Support in Type 2 Diabetes

From International Diabetes Center at Park Nicollet, Minneapolis, Minnesota (Dr Powers); MedStar Health Research Institute and MedStar Nursing, Hyattsville, Maryland (Ms Bardsley); ABQ Health Partners, Albuquerque, New Mexico (Dr Cypress); LifeScan, a Johnson & Johnson Diabetes Solutions Company, Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Ms Duker); University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan (Ms Funnell); University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois (Ms Fischl); Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, Massachusetts (Ms Maryniuk); School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Dr Siminerio); and University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin (Dr Vivian).

Fat Replacers: Their Use In Foods and Role in Diabetes Medical Nutrition Therapy

The scientific literature demonstrates that fat replacers have a reasonable certainty of no harm. Whether they help produce desired health outcomes, i.e., decreased risk of coronary heart disease and certain types of cancer related to excess fat intake, weight reduction, changes in lipid profile, improved glycemic control, etc., depends on how individuals use these foods to change food choices and eating behaviors. As Miller and Rolls conclude, ...the use of fat-replaced foods alone should not be expected to produce spontaneous improvements in weight management. Such improvements will still be dependent on long-term behavioral changes that include not only modifications in fat, but also modifications in overall energy intake and increase in energy expenditure. (53) Though it has not been studied, one may conjecture that encouraging people with diabetes to use foods with fat replacers to achieve nutrition management goals requires sufficient education, continuous counseling, and an individuals conscientious commitment and readiness to change food habits.

Diabetes self-management education and support in type 2 diabetes: A joint position statement of the American Diabetes Association, the American Association of diabetes educators, and the Academy of nutrition and dietetics

Diabetes is a chronic disease that requires a person with diabetes to make a multitude of daily self-management decisions and to perform complex care activities. Diabetes self-management education and support (DSME/S) provides the foundation to help people with diabetes to navigate these decisions and activities and has been shown to improve health outcomes (1–7). Diabetes self-management education (DSME) is the process of facilitating the knowledge, skill, and ability necessary for diabetes self-care. Diabetes self-management support (DSMS) refers to the support that is required for implementing and sustaining coping skills and behaviors needed to self-manage on an ongoing basis. (See further definitions in Table 1.) Although different members of the health care team and community can contribute to this process, it is important for health care providers and their practice settings to have the resources and a systematic referral process to ensure that patients with type 2 diabetes receive both DSME and DSMS in a consistent manner. The initial DSME is typically provided by a health professional, whereas ongoing support can be provided by personnel within a practice and a variety of community-based resources. DSME/S programs are designed to address the patient’s health beliefs, cultural needs, current knowledge, physical limitations, emotional concerns, family support, financial status, medical history, health literacy, numeracy, and other factors that influence each person’s ability to meet the challenges of self-management. View this table: TABLE 1. Key Definitions It is the position of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) that all individuals with diabetes receive DSME/S at diagnosis and as needed thereafter (8). This position statement focuses on the particular needs of individuals with type 2 diabetes. The needs will be similar to those of people with other types of diabetes (type 1 diabetes, prediabetes, and gestational diabetes mellitus); however, the research and examples referred to in this article focus …

Determining the Influence of Type 1 Diabetes on Two Common Eating Disorder Questionnaires

Purpose This research evaluated the level of influence that having type 1 diabetes (T1DM) has on responses to questions about food choices, eating concerns, dietary restraint, and others that are included on two widely used, validated eating disorder (ED) questionnaires and examined responses to these two questionnaires from patients with T1DM and an eating disorder (ED-T1DM) and an ED-no-diabetes. Method An expert panel rated each item on the Eating Disorders Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and Eating Disorders Inventory, version 3 (EDI-3) regarding T1DM level of influence on item interpretation. These questionnaires were completed by 2 matched samples (ED-T1DM, n = 48 and ED-no-diabetes, n = 96); responses were compared between the samples with particular attention to items of high T1DM influence. Results The expert panel identified that 50% (19/38) of the items on the EDE-Q and 6.6% (6/91) on the EDI-3 could be highly influenced by having T1DM. Before Bonferroni correction, the 2 groups responded statistically different on 9 out of 38 items on the EDE-Q and 27 out of 91 items on the EDI-3; generally responses were healthier for those with ED-T1DM than ED-no-diabetes. Of these items, on the EDE-Q, 5 were rated high T1DM influence and on the EDI-3, 3 were rated high. Conclusion Having T1DM influences responses on ED questionnaires developed for the general population. This influence may be greater when questionnaires focus on eating, weight, and shape and result in misinterpretation of total and subscale scores by even well-trained clinicians. A careful review of individual item responses by the treatment team is warranted.

Glucose Pattern Management Teaches Glycemia-Related Problem-Solving Skills in a Diabetes Self-Management Education Program

In Brief Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) involves both the performance of glucose tests and glucose pattern management (GPM) and is a tool patients with diabetes can use to achieve their glucose goals. Seeing the effects that increased activity or modified carbohydrate intake can have on lowering glucose levels is a powerful motivator for patients and reinforces successful behaviors. This article describes how SMBG (including GPM) is integrated into a diabetes self-management education program to teach problem-solving skills and empower patients.

Continuous Glucose Monitoring Reveals Different Glycemic Responses of Moderate- vs High-Carbohydrate Lunch Meals in People with Type 2 Diabetes

This single-center, meal-intervention, crossover study was conducted to determine the glycemic response to fixed meals with varying carbohydrate content. Continuous glucose monitoring was used to document the glycemic response. Participants were 14 people with type 2 diabetes on metformin only. On 4 consecutive days in March or July 2008, study participants consumed a fixed breakfast and one of two test meals (lunch) provided in random order. The two lunch types varied only in carbohydrate content; the protein, fat, fiber, and glycemic index were similar. They consumed no caloric food or beverages for 4 hours after each meal. Consuming double the carbohydrate content did not double the glycemic response variables, yet most were substantially different in glucose value (mg/dL) or minutes. General linear model analyses revealed substantial differences for peak glucose, change from baseline glucose to peak, time to return to preprandial glucose, 4-hour glucose area under the curve, and 4-hour mean glucose. Continuous glucose monitoring data provided a robust description of the glycemic response to the two meals. Such data can help improve postprandial glucose levels through more informed nutrition recommendations and synchronization of food intake, diabetes medication, and/or physical activity.

A review of recent events in the history of diabetes nutritional care.

This paper provides an historical documentation and discussion of events that have influenced diabetes nutritional management in recent years. Many factors have shaped the nutrition care that persons with diabetes receive today. Nutrition science research is part of the history, as are myriad discoveries, research, advanced technologies, and evolving health care systems. This review of the past four decades will contribute a perspective of how we have gotten to where we are today.