Nutrition Education for Type 1 DiabetesNTR 302 Jennifer Morgan

Overview

•Defining and understanding type 1 diabetes

•Importance to nutrition and health educators

•Diabetes education programs

•Strengths and weaknesses

Understanding Type 1 Diabetes

•Insulin-Dependent, Juvenile-Onset Diabetes

•Often begins in late childhood (8-12 years)

•Genetic Link•Most cases begin as an autoimmune

disorder that destroys the insulin producing cells in the pancreas▫Body does not produce insulin. ▫Decreased release of insulin -> Increased

blood glucose

Treatment and Dietary Therapy

•Type 1 Diabetes is treated by insulin therapy, either with injections or with an insulin pump

•Dietary therapy includes 3 regular meals and 1 or more snacks

•Include fiber, low in saturated fats and cholesterol, and meet nutritional requirements

Importance to Nutrition Educators•Medical nutrition therapy•Understanding carbohydrate counting

▫A useful tool for balancing carbohydrate intake and improving blood glucose control while eating a wide selection of foods

Diabetes Education Programs• American Diabetes Association

• JDRF

• North Carolina Diabetes Prevention and Control Branch

• Children’s National Medical Center Diabetes Program

• Endocrinologists

• Funds research to prevent, cure, and manage diabetes

• Deliver services to hundreds of communities

• Provides objective and creditable information

• Advocacy

• Food and Fitness Counseling

• Much More

Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation•Type 1 diabetes research

•Connects families, provides family support

•More than 80% of JDRF’s expenditures directly support research and research related education

Strengths Weaknesses• Multiple programs

available at the national, regional, and community level

• Internet resources allow easy navigation, availability, convenience

• 50/50 Pharmacies

• Insurance coverage

• Insurance coverage

References• Berning J, Beshgetoor D, Byrd-Bredbenner C, Moe G. Wardlaw’s Perspectives in

Nutrition. 9th ed. New York, NY: McGraw Hill; 2010.• American Diabetes Association. About Us. Available at: http://

www.diabetes.org/about-us/?loc=rednav. Accessibility verified March 21, 2013.

• JDRF. About JDRF. Available at: http://jdrf.org/about-jdrf/ Accessibility verified March 21, 2013.

• NC Diabetes Prevention and Control Branch. Available at: http://www.ncdiabetes.org/programs/ index.aspx Accessibility verified March 21, 2013.

• Children’s National Medical Center. Diabetes Program (Childhood and Adolescent). Available at: https://www.childrensnational.org/DepartmentsandPrograms/default.aspx?Id=6066&Type=Program&Name=Diabetes%20Program%20(Childhood%20and%20Adolescent). Accessibility verified March 26, 2013.

• National Conference of State Legislature. Providing diabetes health coverage: state laws and programs. Available at: http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/health/diabetes-health-coverage-state-laws-and-programs.aspx Accessibility verified March 26, 2013.