9
DM: Advise on Vitamin, Mineral and Herbal Supplementation
➤ If vitamin, mineral and herbal supplementation is proposed as
a diabetes management strategy, the RDN can advise adults
with diabetes that there is no clear evidence of benefit from
supplementation in people who do not have underlying deficiencies.
Routine supplementation with antioxidants (such as vitamins E and C
and carotene) and other micronutrients (such as chromium, magnesium
and vitamin D) and herbal supplements (such as cinnamon) are not
advised due to lack of evidence of efficacy and concern related to long-
term safety. (Fair, Conditional)
DM: Advise and Educate on Alcohol Consumption
➤ The RDN should advise and educate adults with diabetes that if they
choose to drink alcohol, they should do so in moderation (one drink
per day or less for adult women and two drinks per day or less for adult
men). Alcohol consumption may place adults with diabetes at increased
risk for delayed hypoglycemia, especially if using insulin or insulin
secretagogues. (Weak, Conditional)
DM: Encourage Individualized Physical Activity Plan
➤ The RDN should encourage an individualized physical activity plan for
adults with diabetes, unless medically contraindicated, to gradually
achieve the following:
• Accumulating 150 minutes or more of physical activity per week
• Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (50–70% of maximum heart rate) spread
over at least three days per week with no more than two consecutive days
without exercise
• Resistance training at least twice per week
• Reduce sedentary time by breaking up extended amounts of time
(>90 minutes) spent sitting.
Adults with diabetes should be advised to perform ≥150 minutes per
week of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity (50%–70% of
maximum heart rate), spread over at least three days per week with no
more than two consecutive days without exercise. (Strong, Imperative)
