ABSTRACT
Medical nutrition therapy is commonly described as the "cornerstone" of diabetes treatment. The effectiveness of nutrition to improve diabetes control and reduce glycosylated hemoglobin has been demonstrated in several research studies. However, it is also frequendy acknowledged that patients find following a diet the most challenging part of the diabetes regimen. Also, physicians are often poorly trained in nutrition and do not have the time to provide patients with an individualized meal plan. What usually results is that patients are handed a preprinted diet tear-off sheet and told to "watch what you eat" or "lose some weight." This advice inevitably results in poor compliance and "diet failure." Therefore, given the importance of nutrition therapy, what can a busy physician do to enhance its effectiveness?
