Diabetes Q&A

ADA Updates Nutritional Recommendations for Diabetes, Prediabetes

The American Diabetes Association has released a new consensus report on nutritional therapy in patients with diabetes. For the first time, the report includes advice on therapy for patients with prediabetes.

The report serves as an update to the previous nutrition position statement, released in 2014.

“Strong evidence supports the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of nutrition therapy as a component of quality diabetes care, including its integration into the medical management of diabetes; therefore, it is important that all members of the health care team know and champion the benefits of nutrition therapy and key nutrition messages,” they wrote in the report.

Among the recommendations:

  • Adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes should be referred to individualized, diabetes-focused nutritional therapy at diagnosis and as needed throughout their lives.
  • Adults with prediabetes and overweight/obesity should be referred to an intensive lifestyle intervention program such as the Diabetes prevention Program (DPP) or individualized nutritional therapy.
  • Because evidence has suggested that there is no ideal percentage of calories from carbohydrate, protein, and fat for all individuals with or at risk for diabetes, macronutrient distribution should be individualized.


“Ideally, an eating plan should be developed in collaboration with the person with prediabetes or diabetes and an RDN through participation in diabetes self-management education when the diagnosis of prediabetes or diabetes is made. Nutrition therapy recommendations need to be adjusted regularly based on changes in an individual’s life circumstances, preferences, and disease course. Regular follow-up with a diabetes health care provider is also critical to adjust other aspects of the treatment plan as indicated,” they concluded.

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Evert AB, Dennison M, Gardner CD, et al. Nutrition therapy for adults with diabetes or prediabetes: a consensus report [published online April 24, 2019]. Diabetes Care. https://doi.org/10.2337/dci19-0014.