Medical Nutrition Therapy for Diabetes
Medical Nutrition Therapy for Diabetes
By Scott Roberts
Introduction
Diabetes is one of America’s most troubling medical issues, with over 23.6 million children and adults in the United States currently diagnosed with it. Food and lifestyle choices are fundamental to diabetes care. The role of the dietitian in the treatment of diabetes’ patients is crucial not only while in the hospital, but in the continued management after they are discharged. A thorough nutritional assessment should be at the core of any diabetes’ patient care plan to help reach the goals of the entire multi-disciplinary team. In this paper, we will discuss the factors that go into the medical nutrition therapy of a patient with diabetes and the desired outcomes.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition in which the body either does not produce enough, or does not properly respond to, insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas. Insulin enables cells to absorb glucose in order to turn it into energy. In patients with diabetes, the body either fails to properly respond to its own insulin, does not make enough insulin, or both. This causes glucose to accumulate in the blood, often leading to various complications.
Types
There are several types of Diabetes that result in different conditions, but it can mostly be classified into 3 major groups.
Diabetes Mellitus Type 1: Once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, this is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin (the hormone needed to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy). Type 2 diabetes, which is far more common, occurs when the body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin or simply doesn’t make enough.
Despite active research, type 1 diabetes has no cure, though it can be managed. With proper treatment, people who have type 1 diabetes can expect to live longer, healthier lives than ever before.
Diabetes Mellitus Type 2: Type 2 is the most
By Scott Roberts
Introduction
Diabetes is one of America’s most troubling medical issues, with over 23.6 million children and adults in the United States currently diagnosed with it. Food and lifestyle choices are fundamental to diabetes care. The role of the dietitian in the treatment of diabetes’ patients is crucial not only while in the hospital, but in the continued management after they are discharged. A thorough nutritional assessment should be at the core of any diabetes’ patient care plan to help reach the goals of the entire multi-disciplinary team. In this paper, we will discuss the factors that go into the medical nutrition therapy of a patient with diabetes and the desired outcomes.
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition in which the body either does not produce enough, or does not properly respond to, insulin, a hormone produced in the pancreas. Insulin enables cells to absorb glucose in order to turn it into energy. In patients with diabetes, the body either fails to properly respond to its own insulin, does not make enough insulin, or both. This causes glucose to accumulate in the blood, often leading to various complications.
Types
There are several types of Diabetes that result in different conditions, but it can mostly be classified into 3 major groups.
Diabetes Mellitus Type 1: Once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, this is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin (the hormone needed to allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy). Type 2 diabetes, which is far more common, occurs when the body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin or simply doesn’t make enough.
Despite active research, type 1 diabetes has no cure, though it can be managed. With proper treatment, people who have type 1 diabetes can expect to live longer, healthier lives than ever before.
Diabetes Mellitus Type 2: Type 2 is the most
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