The American Diabetes Association proposes that all people living with diabetes incorporate nutrition therapy into their diabetes treatment plan, but stresses that there is no one eating plan that is suitable for everyone, as revealed in a position statement they published online in Diabetes Care. The new position statement takes precedence over the earlier version published in 2008. Read on to learn about nutrition guidelines for diabetes.
Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is very significant in the prevention and management of diabetes. In the very least, it slows the rate of development of diabetes complications. It is, thus, significant at all levels of diabetes prevention. MNT is as well an integral part of diabetes self-management education.
Nutrition Guidelines for Diabetes
The latest position statement provides a set of recommendations based on analysis of recent scientific evidence. It proposes that all adults diagnosed with diabetes eat assortments of nutrient-dense foods in the proper portion sizes as an element of an eating plan that takes into consideration individual preferences, culture, religious beliefs, customs and metabolic goals.
Owing to the fact that people eat food and not single nutrients like carbohydrates, protein and fat, the report incorporates a fresh section on eating patterns.
The fact that you have been diagnosed with diabetes does not imply you can no longer eat the foods you love or your cultural traditions. In an ideal situation, the person with diabetes ought to be referred to a registered dietitian or play a part in a diabetes self-management training program, almost immediately after being diagnosed of diabetes.
A significant objective of nutrition therapy for adults with diabetes includes the joint development of a customized eating plan with continuing support to encourage change of behavior that improves health.
The new guidelines as well note that there is no decisive evidence of the ideal quantity of carbohydrate that can be taken by people who are diabetic. Nevertheless, the authors propose that the carbohydrates taken should only come from the following classes of food: vegetables, whole grains, fruits, legumes and dairy products.
Carbohydrates from sources that contain added fats like sugar or sodium must be limited. It was also not agreed upon what quantity of fat intake is okay for diabetic patients. The recommendation on the proper nutrition guidelines for diabetes was based more on the quality of fats.
Monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats should be taken more while trans fats and saturated fats must be avoided. However, people working to manage their weight have to also limit the amount of good fat they take.
Objectives of Medical Management Therapy for Prevention and Treatment of Diabetes
For individuals at risk for diabetes or with pre-diabetic condition
To minimize the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) by boosting healthy food choices and physical activity that would result to moderate weight loss that is sustained.
For individuals with diabetes
- To attain and uphold
- Normal levels of blood glucose or at least keeps it at a level close to the normal range as much as possible.
- A lipid and lipoprotein level that minimizes the risk for vascular disease
- Blood pressure levels in the normal range or as close to normal as is safely possible
- To prevent, or at least lower the rate of development of the persistent complications of diabetes by altering nutrient intake and lifestyle
- To deal with individual nutrition requirements, taking into consideration personal and cultural preferences and readiness to adjusted
- To preserve the delight of eating by only restricting food choices when indicated by scientific evidence
Objectives of MNT that apply to particular situations
- Following medical nutritional guidelines stipulated for youth with type 1 diabetes, youth with type 2 diabetes, pregnant and lactating women, and older adults with diabetes help them to meet the nutritional requirements of these exclusive times in the life cycle.
- It as well ensures that individuals treated with insulin or insulin secretagogues are provided with self-management training for safe engagement in physical exercise, including the deterrence and treatment of hypoglycemia, and treatment of diabetes during acute illness.