The salient topics in the position statement published in Diabetes Care include:
- Portion control should be recommended for weight loss and maintenance.
- When choosing carbohydrate-containing foods, choose nutrient-dense, high-fiber foods whenever possible instead of processed foods with added sodium, fat, and sugars.
- Avoid SSBs.(Sugar Sweetened Beverages)
- Substitute foods higher in unsaturated fat (liquid oils) for foods higher in trans or saturated fat.
- Select leaner protein sources and meat alternatives.
- Vitamin and mineral supplements, herbal products, or cinnamon to manage diabetes are not recommended due to lack of evidence.
- Moderate alcohol consumption (one drink/day or less for adult women and two drinks or less for adult men) has minimal acute or long-term effects on blood glucose in people with diabetes. To reduce risk of hypoglycemia for individuals using insulin or insulin secretagogues, alcohol should be consumed with food.
- Limit sodium intake to 2,300 mg/day.
- For individuals who take insulin secretagogues:
- Do not skip meals.
- For individuals who take biguanides (metformin):
- Gradually titrate to minimize gastrointestinal side effects when initiating use:
- Take medication with food or 15 min after a meal if symptoms persist.
- For individuals who take a-glucosidase inhibitors:
- Gradually titrate to minimize gastrointestinal side effects when initiating use.
- Take at start of meal to have maximal effect:
- If hypoglycemia occurs, eat something containing monosaccharides such as glucose tablets as drug will prevent the digestion of polysaccharides.
- For individuals who take incretin mimetics (GLP-1):
- Gradually titrate to minimize gastrointestinal side effects when initiating use:
- Injection of daily or twice-daily GLP-1s should be premeal.
- Once-weekly GLP-1s can be taken at any time during the day regardless of meal times.
- For individuals with type 1 diabetes and insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes:
- If on a multiple-daily injection plan or on an insulin pump:
- Take mealtime insulin before eating.
- Meals can be consumed at different times.
- If on a premixed insulin plan:
- Insulin doses need to be taken at consistent times every day.
- Meals need to be consumed at similar times every day.
- Do not skip meals to reduce risk of hypoglycemia.
- If on a fixed insulin plan:
- Eat similar amounts of carbohydrates each day to match the set doses of insulin.
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