Key Goals
Goals of Nutrition Therapy That Apply to Adults with Diabetes
Î To promote and support healthful eating patterns, emphasizing a variety
of nutrient-dense foods in appropriate portion sizes, in order to improve
overall health and specifically to:
• Attain individualized glycemic, blood pressure, and lipid goals. General recommended
goals from the ADA for these markers are as follows
a
:
▶ A1C <7%.
▶ Blood pressure <140/80 mm Hg.
▶ LDL cholesterol <100 mg/dL; triglycerides <150 mg/dL; HDL cholesterol
>40 mg/dL for men; HDL cholesterol >50 mg/dL for women.
• Achieve and maintain body weight goals.
• Delay or prevent complications of diabetes.
Î To address individual nutrition needs based on personal and cultural
preferences, health literacy and numeracy, access to healthful food choices,
willingness and ability to make behavioral changes, as well as barriers to
change.
Î To maintain the pleasure of eating by providing positive messages about
food choices while limiting food choices only when indicated by scientific
evidence.
Î To provide the individual with diabetes with practical tools for day-to-
day meal planning rather than focusing on individual macronutrients,
micronutrients, or single foods.
a
A1C, blood pressure, and cholesterol goals may need to be adjusted for the individual based on age,
duration of diabetes, health history, and other present health conditions. Further recommendations for
individualization of goals can be found in the ADA Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes (http://care.
diabetesjournals.org/content/36/Supplement_1/S11.full.pdf+html).
