While no one denies the value of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) from a registered dietitian, there is little data to relate it to glycemic control. Now, however, research reported at the recent ADA meeting provides data showing that patients who received MNT from a dietitian showed much greater improvement in HbA1c than those who did not.

Researchers conducted a chart review of 162 adults with diabetes from nine ambulatory health centers in an integrated healthcare network. The network serves a multi-ethnic, indigent patient population; more than 60% of the patients whose charts were reviewed did not speak English.

The study found that those patients who had had at least two visits with a registered dietitian during the year studied reduced their HbA1c by 20%, bringing mean levels to 8%. Only 2.2% of these patients needed to increase or add diabetes medication during the study period. In comparison, subjects without MNT education had a 2% decline in HbA1c, with mean levels remaining above 8%.

Thus, the researchers reported, MNT by registered dietitians is an essential and effective component in the management of adult patients with diabetes in multicultural outpatient settings.

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