Nutrition Therapy for Adults With Diabetes or Prediabetes: A Consensus Report

Abstract

This Consensus Report is intended to provide clinical professionals with evidencebased guidance about individualizing nutrition therapy for adults with diabetes or prediabetes.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.Nutrition counseling that works toward improving or maintaining glycemic targets, achieving weight management goals, and improving cardiovascular risk factors (e.g., blood pressure, lipids, etc.) within individualized treatment goals is recommended for all adults with diabetes and prediabetes.Though it might simplify messaging, a "one-size-fits-all" eating plan is not evident for the prevention or management of diabetes, and it is an unrealistic expectation given the broad spectrum of people affected by diabetes and prediabetes, their cultural backgrounds, personal preferences, co-occurring conditions (often referred to as comorbidities), and socioeconomic settings in which they live.Research provides clarity on many food choices and eating patterns that can help people achieve health goals and quality of life.The American Diabetes Association (ADA) emphasizes that medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is fundamental in the overall diabetes management plan, and the need for MNT should be reassessed frequently by health care providers in collaboration with people with diabetes across the life span, with special attention during times of changing health status and life stages (1-3).This Consensus Report now includes information on prediabetes, and previous ADA nutrition position statements, the last of which was published in 2014 (4), did not.Unless otherwise noted, the research reviewed was limited to those studies conducted in adults diagnosed with prediabetes, type 1 diabetes, and/or type 2 diabetes.Nutrition therapy for children with diabetes or women with gestational diabetes mellitus is not addressed in this review but is covered in other ADA publications, specifically Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes (5,6). DATA SOURCES, SEARCHES, AND STUDY SELECTIONThe authors of this report were chosen following a national call for experts to ensure diversity of the members both in professional interest and cultural background, including a person living with diabetes who served as a patient advocate.An outside market research company was used to conduct the literature search and was paid using ADA funds.The authors convened in person for one group meeting and actively participated in monthly teleconference calls between February and November 2018.Focused teleconference calls, email, and web-based collaboration were also used to reach consensus on final recommendations between November 2018 and January 2019.The 2014 position statement (4) was used as a starting point, and a search was conducted on PubMed for studies published in English between 1 January 2014 and 28 February 2018 to provide the updated evidence of nutrition therapy interventions in nonhospitalized adults with prediabetes and type 1 and type 2 diabetes.Details on the keywords and the search strategy are reported in the Supplementary Data, emphasizing randomized controlled trials (RCTs), systematic reviews, and metaanalyses of RCTs.An exception was made to the inclusion criteria for the use of meal studies for the insulin dosing section.In addition to the search results, in select cases the authors identified relevant research to include in reaching consensus.The

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Affiliated Institutions

• University of Michigan US
• Harvard University US
• University of Washington US
• Stanford University US
• Durham VA Medical Center US
• Duke University Health System US
• American Diabetes Association US
• Birmingham VA Medical Center US
• University of Alabama at Birmingham US
• Joslin Diabetes Center US
• Vidant Health US
• Saint Luke's Health System US

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