Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Nutrition
What is Type 2 diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body's cells become less responsive to insulin, resulting in inefficient sugar absorption. Elevated blood sugar levels can react with other components in the bloodstream, potentially damaging blood vessels. Poorly managed diabetes can lead to heart disease, kidney damage, and nerve damage (feet and impair vision or hearing).
How do nutrition improve type 2 diabetes?
While carbs/sugar do not cause diabetes, carbohydrates are a key nutrient in diabetes management. In people with type 2 diabetes, their cells cannot take in the blood sugar efficiently enough because the cells are not sensitive to the body signal (insulin resistance), causing sugar to accumulate in the blood.
The nutrition management goal is to supply enough carbohydrates to our bodies to support body functions. It is at a frequency and dose that causes blood sugar to accumulate or too little that fails to support body functions and negatively impacts the body (such as damaging the liver).
While carbohydrates and sugar don't cause diabetes, they play a pivotal role in managing it. Individuals with type 2 diabetes often struggle with insulin resistance, making it challenging for their cells to efficiently absorb blood sugar. This can lead to elevated blood sugar levels.
The goal of nutritional management is to provide the body with the right amount of carbohydrates to support its functions without causing sugar to accumulate excessively or become too scarce, which could negatively affect vital processes, including liver health.
Why working with a dietitian?
Dietitians are medically-trained nutrition professionals, and the only professional that is qualified to provide individual dietary consultation at the moment (Click here to read about dietitian and nutritionist). Dietitians are trained to provide medical nutrition therapy and one-to-one personalised dietary advice. We take in consideration of one’s lifestyle, dietary habits, preference and goals to tailor our nutrition strategies.
The topics dietitians might talk to you about:
The role of carbohydrates in type 2 diabetes management
Types, sources, and portions of carbohydrate-containing foods
Carbohydrates distribution in diabetes management
Carbohydrate counting
How protein and fat affect blood glucose level
How to monitor blood sugar level and therapeutic goals
Insulin dosage based on food intake (if relevant)
Other healthy behaviours and dietary changes that manage or prevent other comorbidities and diabetes-related conditions.
What does working with Timeless Dietetic dietitian look like?
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You will be invited to fill in a survey before the consults, including your health history, family history, current situation, goals
For elite athletes: You might be asked to provide a training program, body composition assessment (if available) and food diary
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Discuss and understand your goals, living situation, lifestyle, potential motivators and barriers.
Perform assessment on health indicators, training schedules and goals, usual dietary intake.
Provide professional feedback on your diet, and identify areas that can be improved to help achieve your goal.
Discuss the most relevant nutrition topic that can help with the current situation and those you are interested in.
In collaboration with you, set small but impactful nutrition goals, homework and challenges.
Recommend what else you can do in the future and a recommended review timeframe if you would like to continue.
Provide you with a tailored nutrition information package to takeaway.
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Review the effectiveness and practicality of previous goals/homework/challenges.
Review and track any progress indicators.
Reassess any changes in health indicators, training and dietary intake.
Discuss the most relevant nutrition topics and those you are interested in.
In collaboration with you, adjust the previous intervention that did not work well or develop a new strategy.
In collaboration with you, develop new strategies to improve your health and progress.
Provide you with a tailored nutrition information package to takeaway.
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