Nutrition Therapy Goals

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The main goals of nutrition therapy for the person with diabetes include:

1. Blood Glucose Levels - Achieving and maintaining near-normal blood glucose levels by balancing food intake with insulin or oral glucose lowering medications and activity levels. Target blood sugar levels depend on each person and the goals set with their health care team.

2. Blood Fat Levels - Achieving optimal blood fat levels which include lowering cholesterol and triglycerides. This is significant to the health of a person with diabetes because high blood fats lead to diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

3. Adequate Calories/Monitor Weight - Supplying adequate calories for the maintenance or correction of realistic adult weights or for normal growth and development for children and adolescents, or to meet increased metabolic needs during pregnancy in type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes and breast feeding, or for recovery from illnesses. Also, an adequate intake to satisfy appetite.

Children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes will grow and mature at normal rates, provided they consume adequate calories and maintain blood sugar control. The meal plan is intended to ensure a reasonably consistent intake of food and a nutritionally adequate diet, and is not a restriction of calories.

For obese people with type 2 diabetes, moderate weight loss has been shown to reduce high blood sugars, high blood fats and high blood pressure. Reasonable body weight is defined as that level of weight individuals and health care providers acknowledge as achievable and sustainable both short and long term.

Weight management for people with type 1 diabetes is also an important issue. Weight loss can occur if a child/teen is not eating enough calories and can result in calories being lost as sugar in the urine. Weight gain can occur with improved control as the body saves the calories that are being consumed. Intensive insulin therapy may be another cause of weight gain, if hypoglycaemia occurs more often, more calories are consumed.

Potential for weight gain can be minimized by focusing on food choices, portion control and appropriate treatment of hypoglycaemia. Weight control may be a difficult challenge for children, teens and adults.

Read what Linda Wright, registered dietitian, Columbia St. Mary's Diabetes Treatment Center advises about controlling weight.