MNT and Prediabetes

Because Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is one of the top ten leading causes of death in the US and it directly and indirectly causes approximately 174 billion dollars a year in the US, prevention has become a highly researched area. There have studies in the past correlating lifestyle changes in the prevention or delayed onset of T2DM in at risk populations. This specific study had the objective of determining if medical nutrition therapy (MNT) has a different effect on prevention than the usual care. 76 partiipants were used for this study, all of which had impaired fasting blood glucose or a glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) of 5.7-6.4%. The participants were split up into two groups; one was a control group that received the usual care and the second underwent a 12 week intervention period. Data was collected pre-test and post-test to measure differences. Quantitative data collected during the study included fasting blood glucose, serum lipid levels, and a Diabetes risk score. The results demonstrated that the intervention group had significantly lower HbA1C values and diabetes risk score. Both groups demonstrated a reduction in in LDL and total cholesterol.

This research demonstrates a need for dietitians in preventative care. If dietitians are able to implement MNT on patients with prediabetes before the condition worsens, it can significantly improve the health and medical outcomes of the patient and decrease the nationwide financial burden of the disease.

-LL


Parker, A. R., Byham-Gray, L., Denmark, R., & Winkle, P. J. (2014). The Effect of Medical Nutrition Therapy by a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist in Patients with Prediabetes Participating in a Randomized Controlled Clinical Research Trial. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 114(11), 1739-1748.

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