Diabetes

Plan

Step 2: Plan

Diabetes Management

ABCDES

When creating a care plan, you want to consider the ABCDES of diabetes management:

ABCDES of Diabetes Management, adapted from Diabetes Canada Clinical Practice Guidelines 
Initial Value Description
A A1C targets Optimal glucose control (usually ≤ 7%)
B BP targets Optimal blood pressure control (< 130/80 mmHg)
C Cholesterol targets LDL-C ≤ 2.0 mmol/L if decision made to treat
(see algorithm and Risk Assessment Tool )
D Drugs For protecting the heart, even if the baseline blood pressure or LDL-C is already at target
E Exercise/Eating Regular physical activity, healthy eating, achievement and maintenance of healthy body weight. Aim for 150 mins of moderate to vigorous aerobic activity per week and resistance exercise 2-3 times per week.
S Smoking cessation

Self-management

Screening for complications

 

Provide education on smoking cessation.

 

Assess barriers to achieving self-management goals (stress, finances, social supports etc.)

Cardiac: ECG every 3-5 years if age > 40 OR diabetes complications
Foot: Monofilament/Vibration yearly or more if abnormal
Kidney: Test eGFR and yearly, or more if abnormal                        Retinopathy: yearly dilated retinal exam

Creating a Nutrition Care Plan for Diabetes

Make sure to review the following 8 key areas:

  • Hypoglycemia
  • Hyperglycemia
  • Medication and Insulin
  • Carbohydrate (CHO) Intake
  • Macronutrient Distribution
  • Meal Timing
  • Cholesterol
  • Physical Activity

Common PES Statement Terminology

As you interpret the data from the assessment, you can form Problem, Etiology, Symptoms (PES) statements or nutrition diagnoses that help identify nutrition concerns that need to be addressed in your plan. If you are not familiar with how to write a PES statement please review this resource from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Here are some common nutrition problems that patients with diabetes experience.

  • Excessive energy intake
  • Less than optimal intake of types of carbohydrate (specify)
  • Food- and nutrition-related knowledge deficit
  • Not ready for diet/lifestyle change
  • Physical inactivity
  • Unintended weight loss
  • Altered nutrition-related laboratory values (specify)
  • Inconsistent carbohydrate intake
  • Less than optimal intake of types of fats (specify)
  • Disordered eating pattern
  • Inability to manage self-care
  • Impaired ability to prepare foods/meals

You can create a PES statement for Penelope as we go through each of the 8 key areas.

 

Here is Penelope’s biochemical data from the assessment section. It may be helpful to refer to when creating your PES statements.

Penelope’s Lab Results
Lab Test Lab Result Target Range
A1C 7.5% ≤ 7.0%
Random BG 11.0 mmol/L 5.0 – 10.0 mmol/L
TC 3.6 mmol/L ≤ 4.0 mmol/L
LDL 1.45 mmol/L ≤ 2.0 mmol/L
HDL 1.9 mmol/L ≥ 1.3 mmol/L
TG 1.2 mmol/L ≤ 1.7 mmol/L

Hypoglycemia

If you identified hypoglycemia as a problem from your assessment, then this needs to be prioritized in your care plan as it presents a high risk.

Make sure clients know the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia, which can include: shaking/trembling, fast heartbeat, sweating, dizziness, hunger, blurred vision, headache, confusion, weakness/fatigue, anxiousness or irritability. In addition, nocturnal hypoglycemia may cause: vivid dreams or nightmares, restless sleep, morning headache, or night sweats.

Make sure clients know how treat hypoglycemia using the 15:15 rule. If their BG is less than 4.0 mmol/L, they can follow these steps:

  1. Take 15g of simple CHO (carbohydrate): For example ¾ cup juice or regular pop; 3-4 glucose tablets; 3 packets of sugar
  2. Recheck BG after 15 minutes
    • If above 4.0: have a balanced snack or meal
    • If below 4.0: re-treat with 15g CHO

You also need to think about the potential causes of the hypoglycemia and advise the client on measures they can take to prevent low blood sugars from happening in the first place. Causes include: more physical activity than usual, taking too much medication, not eating on time or eating less than usual, and drinking alcohol.

Impaired awareness of hypoglycemia (IAH) also poses a risk to patients living with diabetes. IAH occurs when a person does not experience the symptoms typically associated with hypoglycemia. In these cases, the first symptom is often more serious such as confusion or loss of consciousness. IAH is more likely to occur in patients who experience hypoglycemia often, have had diabetes for a long time, or who suffer from diabetic neuropathy. IAH is reversible through improved glycemic control and avoidance of hypoglycemia. As a dietitian it is important to be aware of IAH as your patient may not identify these symptoms for you. Encouraging self-monitoring of blood glucose can be a helpful tool to identify and treat hypoglycemia.

 

Penelope’s Hypoglycemia

PES: Hypoglycemia related to inconsistent carbohydrate intake, as evidenced by feelings of hunger and shaking/trembling before lunch.
  • Treat: use the 15:15 rule
  • Prevent: encourage Penelope to include CHO at all meals, especially breakfast

Her lows before lunch are likely related to her lack of carbohydrates at breakfast, which is evidenced in her 24-hour recall.

Make sure Penelope recognizes the signs and symptoms of low blood sugar and has a plan in place for treating it if it happens again. For example, if she wakes up and has a BG of 3.5 mmol/L, she should have ¾ cup of juice and follow the 15:15 rule before having breakfast.

You also want to try to prevent her hypos in the morning and before lunch by encouraging Penelope to include carbs at all meals, especially breakfast.

Hyperglycemia

If you identified frequent hyperglycemia as a problem from your assessment, then this needs to be prioritized in your care plan as it presents a risk for developing long-term complications  (e.g. eye damage or diabetic retinopathy, heart disease, stroke, hypertension, kidney disease, nerve damage and amputation, gastroparesis, erectile dysfunction).

Make sure clients know the signs and symptoms of hyperglycemiawhich can include: dry mouth, thirst, frequent urination, and blurred vision.

Think about the potential causes of the hyperglycemia (e.g imbalance of food, certain medical conditions, stress, and some medications) and advise the client on measures they can take to prevent high blood sugars.

When treating hyperglycemia, consider the BG:

  • If BG is frequently more than 11 mmol/L: adjust medication and/or insulin, adjust dietary patterns, and increase physical activity
  • If BG is more than 20 mmol/L: seek immediate medical attention

 

Penelope’s Hyperglycemia

PES: Hyperglycemia related to excessive carbohydrate intake at dinner, as evidenced by BG > 11 mmol/L 2 hours after dinner and diet history.

To prevent hyperglycemia, encourage Penelope to include CHO at all meals, and reduce the portion size of CHO at dinner.

Penelope’s hyperglycemia in the evening is likely related to her excessive carbohydrate intake at dinner. The most effective plan to reduce Penelope’s high blood sugars in the evening and help to keep them controlled throughout the day, is to encourage her to include carbs at all meals and reduce the portion size of carbs at dinner.

Medication and Insulin

If a client is experiencing hypo- or hyperglycemia that you think may be related to medication and insulin, check the following:

  • Are they taking their medication and insulin at the times prescribed?
  • Does the type of medication commonly cause hypoglycemia?
  • Where are they injecting?
  • Are they rotating their insulin injection sites? How often?
  • Are they changing the needle/pen tip every time?
  • Are they waiting 10 seconds before removing the needle from the skin?
  • Do they see any insulin leaking out of the injection site?
Diabetes management can include various oral and injectable medications, monitoring blood sugars with a glucometer, and tracking sugars throughout the day. Management looks different for everyone.
Photo by Nataliya Yaitkevich on Pexels

Liaise with the client’s Primary Care Provider (PCP) regarding medication or insulin education, or changes, if needed. This is especially important If a client is experiencing hypo- or hyperglycemia that you think may be related to medication and insulin.

Carbohydrate Intake

To maintain optimal blood sugar control throughout the day clients can be encouraged to try to:

  • Choose carbohydrate foods with low glycemic index (beans, lentils, whole grains, most vegetables and fruits) as they contain fibre which slows the absorption of sugar into the blood.
  • Limit simple sugars (regular pop, desserts, candies, jam, and honey) as they raise blood sugars rapidly.
  • Check food labels for hidden sugars (agave, corn syrup, dextrose, fructose, glucose, maltose, maple syrup, molasses, raw sugar, sucrose, etc.).
  • Use the Nutrition Facts table when Carb Counting to determine the amount of carbohydrate in 1 serving.

Carb Counting is a great method to recommend for keeping portions equal throughout the day. Carb Counting is more appropriate for a client who has a high literacy level and is committed to spending time planning their diet as a part of their diabetes management.

For more information, read Diabetes Canada’s “Basic Carbohydrate Counting” (PDF) resource.

Macronutrient Distribution

To maintain optimal blood sugar control throughout the day clients can be encouraged to try to:

  • Eat around the same amount of carbohydrate-containing foods at each meal.
  • Include protein and unsaturated fats with carbohydrates at meals and snacks to slow the absorption of sugar into the blood.
  • Use the plate method (½ vegetables, ¼ grains and starches, ¼ protein).

A suggested pattern for meals and snacks could consist of:

  • Breakfast: 1-2 servings + protein
  • Lunch/Dinner: 2-3 servings of CHO + protein + 1-2 cups vegetables
  • Snacks: 1 serving CHO + protein

When working with those with diabetes, the plate method  is commonly used when helping clients to balance their meals and snacks.  Clients who require a simpler explanation of carbohydrate portioning can benefit from using the plate method to help manage their diabetes with their diet.

For more information, read Diabetes Canada’s “Just the Basics” (PDF) resource.

 

 

Penelope’s Carb Intake and Macro Distribution

PES: Inconsistent carbohydrate intake related to food and nutrition knowledge deficit of appropriate amount of dietary carbohydrate, as evidenced by variations in BG levels and diet history.

A component of Penelope’s nutrition care plan to reduce hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia involves using Carb Counting or the Plate Method. This may help to evenly distribute the carbohydrates throughout the day at each meal so they are not all at dinner, and will help to make sure she is combining protein with carbohydrates at meals and snacks to slow the absorption of the sugars into her blood.

After discussing these options with Penelope she decides she would like to try the plate method, which you use to help her make changes to her diet. The changes are noted below.

Suggested Dietary Changes
[*] indicates changes in foods or portions 
Meal Penelope’s diet recall Dietary suggestions
Breakfast
7 am
2 eggs, 2 pieces bacon, lettuce, 1 rice cake*, 15 mL mayo
  • Substitute 1 rice cake for 2 slices of whole grain bread* (by having her eggs and bacon as a sandwich)
  • These are high fibre CHO choices that will help keep her BG stable throughout the morning until she eats her lunch
Lunch
12 pm
2* chicken breasts with skin, 2 cups salad (mostly lettuce, tomato, cucumber, red peppers), 60 mL dressing, 250 mL chocolate milk
  • Reduce chicken from 2 breasts to 1 breast*
  • Add ½ cup of brown rice*
Dinner
5:30 pm
6 oz baked fish, 2 cups* mashed potatoes, ½ cup corn*, 2 tbsp butter, 2 cups unsweetened apple juice*
  • Reduce mashed potatoes from 2 cups to 1 cup*
  • Substitute ½ cup of corn with 1 cup of broccoli*, which is her favorite vegetable
  • Substitute 2 cups of apple juice for 1 can of diet pop* to help reduce CHO portions at dinner; she doesn’t like plain water, but is willing to switch to diet pop
snack ¼ cup* “fat free” baked pita chips
  • If her BG is 4-5 mmol/L when she tests at bedtime, she should have a bigger snack with some CHO and protein to help prevent low blood sugars overnight:
    • Increase pita chips portion from ¼ cup to 1 cup*
    • Add 3 tbsp of hummus*
  • If BG is higher than 5 mmol/L, there is no need for a snack

Meal Timing

To maintain optimal blood sugar control throughout the day clients can be encouraged to try to:

  • Eat three meals per day at regular times, including snacks between meals, if needed.
  • Space meals and snacks about 4 hours apart (and no more than 6 hours apart).

 

Penelope’s Meal Timing

PES: Adequate meal timing as evidenced by diet history.

No meal timing changes required at this time.

Cholesterol

To lower LDL cholesterol, clients can be encouraged to try to:

  • Choose unsaturated fats (olive oil, canola oil, nuts and seeds, fatty fish, soft non-hydrogenated margarine) more often than saturated fats (fatty meats, cream, butter).
  • Avoid trans fats (found in some highly processed foods).
  • Choose foods high in soluble fibre (beans, oats, fruit, some vegetables).
  • Consider adding psyllium husk (like Metamucil) to meals or snacks, once per day.

 

 

Penelope’s Cholesterol

PES: Adequate cholesterol as evidenced by lipid labs within target range.

Cholesterol is not a concern for Penelope, so no cholesterol care plan required at this time.

Physical Activity

During physical activity, blood sugars can decline due to increased glucose disposal and insulin sensitivity. Clients can be encouraged to try to complete:

  • 150 minutes of moderate-to vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise each week (e.g. 30 minutes, five days a week).
  • Resistance exercises (like lifting weights) two to three times a week.

It may be beneficial to refer clients to a physiotherapist as they may need to be:

  • Assessed for conditions that might place them at increased risk for an adverse event associated with certain types of exercise.
  • Supervised by an exercise specialist for a certain period of time to ensure safety.

 

Penelope’s Physical Activity

PES: Inadequate physical activity related to feeling too tired to exercise, as evidenced by < 30 minutes of physical activity per week.

There is no physical activity plan at this time, as Penelope is not currently interested in engaging in more physical activity. She would like to focus on dietary changes first. You don’t want to overwhelm her with too many changes at once, so adding in physical activity doesn’t need to be part of the care plan at this time. It can be discussed in a follow-up appointment.

Nutrition Care Plan Summary

Recommendations

Now that we have gone through all 8 of the key areas to investigate when creating a nutrition care plan, here is a summary of the recommendations. You can refer to this summary when working with clients living with diabetes in your placement and add to this list as you expand your knowledge in this clinical area of practice.

Summary of Recommendations
Area of Concern Recommendations
Hypoglycemia
  • If BG less than 4.0 mmol/L treat using the 15:15 rule
  • Adjust dietary patterns to ensure sufficient intake of carbohydrates at meals
  • Suggest to to adjust medication and/or insulin

(NOTE: without a medical directive, RDs are not permitted to adjust medications)

Hyperglycemia
  • Adjust dietary patterns
  • Increase physical activity
  • Suggest to PCP to adjust medication and/or insulin
Medication and Insulin Adherence
  • Check if taking as prescribed
  • Consult with PCP or Diabetes Nurse Educator to suggest medication changes and/or adjustments
Carbohydrate Intake
  • Choose CHO with low /high fibre
  • Consider Carb Counting using Nutrition Facts table
Macronutrient Distribution
  • Use Plate Method
  • Eat CHO at each meal and snack
Meal Timing
  • Eat at regular times, no more than 6 hours apart
Cholesterol
  • Choose unsaturated fats and foods high in soluble fibre
  • Limit saturated fat and avoid trans fat
  • Take cholesterol medications as prescribed
Physical Activity
  • 150 minutes moderate to vigorous exercise each week
  • Resistance exercise 2-3 times per week

PES Statements for Penelope

These are all the nutrition problems that we identified for Penelope using the information we gathered in our assessment and will address in the nutrition care plan.

  1. Hypoglycemia related to inconsistent carbohydrate intake, as evidenced by FBG < 4.0mmol/L and feelings of hunger and shaking/trembling before lunch.
  2. Hyperglycemia related to excessive carbohydrate intake at dinner, as evidenced by BG > 11 mmol/L 2 hours after dinner and diet history.
  3. Inconsistent carbohydrate intake related to food and nutrition knowledge deficit of appropriate amount of dietary carbohydrate, as evidenced by variations in BG levels and diet history.
  4. (Adequate meal timing as evidenced by diet hx.)
  5. (Adequate cholesterol as evidenced by lipid labs within target range.)
  6. Inadequate physical activity related to feeling too tired to exercise, as evidenced by < 30 minutes of physical activity per week.

Penelope’s Nutrition Care Plan

The plan is for Penelope to:

  • Treat any future hypoglycemia by using the 15:15 rule.
  • Prevent hypoglycemia by including CHO at breakfast, lunch, and dinner; include at HS snack if BG are ~4-5 mmol/L.
  • Prevent hyperglycemia by using the Plate Method to create balanced meals, with smaller portions of high fibre CHO.
  • Continue to monitor BG 2 times per day using glucometer (FBG in the morning, and BG at HS).
PART 2: PLAN COMPLETE. Pause to reflect on the planning strategies discussed. When you’re ready, move on to Part 3: Implement.

 

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Preparation for Dietetic Practice Copyright © by Megan Omstead, RD, MPH is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.