Increasing Annual Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Visits for Patients with Diabetes

Abstract

Nutrition care is an essential component of diabetes management success. Dietary adherence, diabetes self-management education, and medical nutrition therapy are associated with improved glycemic control in patients with diabetes.1-3 The American Diabetes Association3 states, “Individualized medical nutrition therapy is recommended for children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes as an essential component of the overall treatment plan.” In addition, “comprehensive nutrition education at diagnosis, with annual updates, by an experienced registered dietitian is recommended to assess caloric and nutrition intake in relation to weight status and CVD [cardiovascular disease] risk factors and to inform macronutrient choices.”4 The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Evidence Analysis Library section on diabetes types 1 and 2 for adults classifies the recommendation for a minimum of 1 annual medical nutrition therapy encounter as strong and imperative; the practice is associated with maintained and continued lowering of hemoglobin A1C for up to 6.5 years for patients with type 1 diabetes and for up to 2 years for patients with type 2 diabetes.