Structured Diet Plan Improves A1c in Type 2 Diabetes

A highly structured meal plan was more effective in helping overweight or obese adults with type 2 diabetes to lose weight and reduce their hemoglobin A1c levels than traditional medical nutrition therapy, according to recent research.

Current standards for medical care of patients with diabetes recommend that they participate in medical nutrition therapy and consult a registered dietitian to develop an individualized meal plan. However, the researchers were unsure whether this was the most effective model of nutrition therapy.
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To conduct their study, the researchers randomly assigned 37 overweight or obese participants with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes to 1 of 3 groups.

Participants in the first group consulted a dietitian to create individualized meal plans. Participants in the second group consulted a dietitian and were assigned a highly structured meal plan based on the Clinical Nutrition Guidelines for Overweight/Obese Adults with Type 2 Diabetes. Participants in the third group were assigned the same highly structured meal plan and received weekly phone coaching from their dietitian.

Participants did not change their medications or activity level during the study period.

After 16 weeks, participants in the first group (traditional nutrition therapy) did not see a change in A1c levels. However, participants in the second and third groups (highly structured meal plan) lowered their A1c levels by 0.67% and lost an average of 3.5 kg.

“Following a structured dietary plan provided by a [registered dietitian] that includes menus book and [diabetes-specific nutritional formula] significantly reduces A1c in comparison to the currently recommended model for [medical nutrition therapy],” the researchers concluded.

“This model significantly reduces body weight from baseline. Weekly [registered dietitian] support might be of limited additional value.”

—Amanda Balbi

Reference:

Mottalib A, Salsberg V, Mohd-Yusof B-N, et al. Effects of 3 different models of medical nutrition therapy on A1c and body weight in overweight and obese patients with type 2 diabetes: a randomized clinical study. Paper presented at: American Diabetes Association 76th Scientific Sessions; June 10-14, 2016; New Orleans, LA. http://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/4008/presentation/25353. Accessed June 22, 2016.