A new study from the Joslin Diabetes Center has revealed that a highly structured nutrition therapy can significantly improve blood sugar control, body weight, and lipid profiles in overweight and obese individuals with type 2 diabetes. The Nutrition Pathway Study, presented at the American Diabetes Association’s 76th Scientific Sessions in New Orleans, found that structured meal planning led to better outcomes than traditional dietary counseling.
Structured Nutrition Therapy Plan Lowers A1C and Body Weight
The study included 108 adults with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes who were on multiple oral and injectable medications (excluding insulin). Participants were divided into three groups to compare different models of nutrition therapy.
- Group 1 followed a traditional approach, meeting with a registered dietitian (RD) to discuss their eating habits and receive general dietary recommendations.
- For Group 2 followed a structured meal plan based on the Joslin Clinical Nutrition Guideline, which included specific macronutrient targets, meal plans, snack lists, and diabetes-specific calorie replacement foods.
- Group 3 followed the same structured meal plan as Group 2 but also received weekly phone coaching from an RD.
After 16 weeks, participants in Groups 2 and 3 saw a significant reduction in A1C levels—by an average of 0.67 percentage points—without changes in exercise, medication, or other lifestyle factors. Additionally, they lost an average of 3.5 kg (7.7 lbs), while participants in the traditional group saw no significant changes in either A1C or body weight.
Nutrition Therapy as Effective as Medications
Dr. Osama Hamdy, lead investigator and Medical Director of the Obesity Clinical Program at Joslin Diabetes Center, emphasized the importance of these findings.
“This drop in A1C due to nutrition therapy alone is much better than what we have achieved with many of the current medications for type 2 diabetes,” Dr. Hamdy stated.
“This is very encouraging since participants in the study had been living with type 2 diabetes for more than 10 years and were not able to control their blood glucose or weight with multiple medications.” The study’s results suggest that structured nutrition therapy could be a powerful tool in diabetes management, potentially reducing reliance on medication.
The Science Behind the Meal Plan
The structured nutrition approach used in the study was based on Joslin’s Clinical Nutrition Guidelines for Overweight/Obese Adults with Type 2 Diabetes. The meal plan consisted of approximately 40-45% of daily calories from carbohydrates, with the rest coming from healthy proteins and fats. It was also high in fiber and lower in saturated fat and sodium.
Dr. Hamdy noted that patients who follow structured plans find them easier to adhere to. “We have been using this structured plan for many years in our Why WAIT program for diabetes weight reduction with excellent success,” he said.
A New Approach to Diabetes Management
The study’s findings reinforce the importance of nutrition in managing type 2 diabetes. By implementing structured meal plans, healthcare providers can help patients achieve better glucose control and weight management without relying on additional medications. Researchers now hope to explore how structured nutrition therapy could be further optimized for long-term success in diabetes care.
Reference: Joslin Diabetes Center. “Overweight, obese type 2 patients show improvements with structured nutrition therapy.” ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 21 June 2016. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/06/160621121654.htm>.
