Issue 60 October 2013
4. American Diabetes Association publishes the Position Statement on Nutrition Therapy Recommendations for the Management of Adults With Diabetes

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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