Making it Happen

Dietary / Nutrition

In this section you will find:

• Slide Presentation
• Reference list and Key Readings
• Selected resources providing dietary guidance for patients, such as:

  • Counting Carbohydrates
  • Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Diet
  • Diabetes Food Guide Pyramid
  • Be Sensible with Sodium

Key Points:

• Medical nutrition therapy is integral in inpatient hyperglycemia management
• Dietary department involvement is critical
  

  • Including representation on the multidisciplinary team involved in ensuring inpatient glycemic control
• A focus on consistent carbohydrate consumption is important

  • This should be the focus of a nutritional plan outlined by a registered dietitian
  • This should be the focus of the resulting meal plan
• Provisions for special patient circumstances should be addressed by algorithms and educational efforts, including for:
  

  • NPO status
  • Parenteral nutrition
  • Enteral nutrition
  • Steroid Therapy

Finally:

• Adequacy of nutritional intake must always be ensured 

  • Sick patients have considerable caloric requirements
  • Restriction of calories is NOT the appropriate way to control glucose
• Glucose control should result from the administration of adequate insulin therapy