ABSTRACT
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease characterized by a defect in insulin secretion, ineffective insulin action, or both, that results in high blood glucose. Defects in insulin secretion can result in a substantial or absolute absence of insulin. The four cornerstones of a comprehensive care plan for a person with diabetes, without regard to the type, include the following: nutritional intervention; medication, when appropriate; self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), when appropriate; and physical activity. Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is the mode of nutritional intervention and is the focus of this chapter. MNT for prediabetes is very similar to MNT for diabetes. There is more focus on weight management in the care plan for prediabetes. Not all insurance plans provide MNT benefits for prediabetes. Treatment goals may vary from referral source to referral source and while these targets do need to be individualized, there exists marked differences in targets promoted by major diabetes institutions.
