Nutrition Practice Guideline Care Improves Diabetes Outcomes

Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) for diabetes is not “one size fits all.” Each person with diabetes is an individual, and finding the optimal approach to his or her nutrition care is often a challenge. Nutrition Practice Guidelines (NPGs) for diabetes have been developed to guide nutrition professionals in providing MNT that individualizes and improves diabetes outcomes.MNT is an essential part of attaining the clinical goals of diabetes management outlined in Table 1.1,2 The approach to MNT should be individualized, with certain populations, such as pregnant women, requiring special considerations.NPGs are systematically developed statements designed to guide practitioners’ and patients’ decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances.3 They are based on the best available research and professional judgment. NPGs are comprehensive, specific, and manageable. They are thoroughly researched and validated through field-testing by a pool of practitioners. NPGs outline the process nutrition professionals should follow in providing MNT to individuals with type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes.4,5Specific recommendations are made regarding data to collect before, during, and after office visits to assist in tracking outcomes, as well as standards for determining the level of care to provide and suggestions for frequency of visits for each disease. NPGs are not a “cookbook approach” but do offer a step-by-step roadmap to MNT. Following a predetermined process helps registered dietitians (RDs) proceed through each step without omitting important aspects of care. Although NPGs are intended primarily for use by nutrition professionals, others, such as health care providers, institutions, and policy makers, may also find them useful.Practice guidelines work! Results of NPG field-testing showed that blood glucose control improved when individuals with diabetes received practice guidelines care. Specifically, in individuals with type 1 diabetes, hemoglobin A1c (A1C) results at …