Diabetes Standards of Care and Resources for Clinicians and Educators
Nutrition
Healthy eating is an essential component of managing diabetes. All individuals with prediabetes or diabetes should receive nutrition education that considers access to nutritious foods, as well as personal and cultural preferences.
Health care team members are encouraged to provide basic nutrition education. Whenever possible, patients should be referred to a registered dietitian (RD) for individualized medical nutrition therapy (MNT).
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Recommendations At-a-Glance
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Clinical Practice Recommendations
Recommendations for Nutrition
It is recommended that patients receive basic nutrition education that supports healthful eating patterns, focusing on a variety of foods in appropriate amounts. Consider using My Native Plate to engage discussion about eating practices such as food choices, meal preparations, and portions.
- Provide basic nutrition education to all patients with diabetes or prediabetes:
- at diagnosis
- then annually
- more often as needed
- Refer patients to an RD, whenever possible, for MNT for diabetes and other health conditions that need individualized nutrition recommendations (e.g., hypertension, dyslipidemia, kidney disease).
- at diagnosis
- then annually
- more often as needed
- Assess a patient’s access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious foods. Screen for food insecurity using the Food Insecurity Assessment Tool and Resource List [PDF – 230 KB].
Clinician and Educator Resources
Featured Nutrition Resources
Patient Education Resources
Nutrition Patient Education Resources
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Education Materials and Resources (Online Catalog) |
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DASH Eating Plan Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov [PDF] |
CME Training
Nutrition CME Trainings
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Nurturing Health: The Link Between Breastfeeding and Type 2 Diabetes Prevention Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov
Nicole Santonastaso, RDN, LD, IBCLC, CDCESPrevention Program Supervisor Norton Sound Health Corporation (Originally presented on 08/07/24) |
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Our Prayer: Healthy Future Generations as a Result of the Healthy Diné Nation Act of 2014 Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov
Denisa Livingston, MPH, MLSIndigenous Public Health Consultant Diné Community Advocacy Alliance (Originally presented on 07/24/24) |
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Gary L. Ferguson II, ND Washington State University Institute for Research and Education to Advance Community Health (IREACH) (Originally presented on 06/05/24) |
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Applying the ADCES 7-Self Care Behaviors in Navajo Communities Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov
Denee Bex, MPH, RD, CDCESTumbleweed Nutrition LLC Founder & Owner (Originally presented on 04/03/24) |
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Better Understanding Diet, Physical Activity, & Cardio-metabolic Health in American Indians Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov
Mandy Fretts, PhD MPHAssociate Professor Department of Epidemiology University of Washington School of Public Health (Originally presented on 01/24/24) |
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Health Coaching: Practitioner Perspectives in Improving Health Outcomes Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov
Jill Breyen, MS,RDN,CDCES, Health and Wellness CoachRed Lake Comprehensive Health Services Red Lake Indian Hospital (Originally presented on 09/06/23) |
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| Native Nutrition Principles and Menus Inspired by the Ancestors Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov Valerie Segrest – BSN, MA Muckleshoot Tribal Member Owner – Tahoma Peak Solutions (Originally presented on 05/31/23) |
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Michelle Archuleta, MA, MS Public Health Advisor, CHR Program Lead HQs Indian Health Service Alyssa Fine, RN, MSN, CDCES, CNL Wellness & Diabetes Program Coordinator, Cowlitz Indian Tribe Health Clinic LCDR, US Public Health Service (Originally presented on 05/24/23) |
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New The Role of Nutrition Therapy for Depression and Anxiety in Diabetes Management Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov
Erica Dean, MS, RDN, CDCES, FMNSDiabetes Educator Claremore Indian Hospital (Originally presented on 03/29/23) |
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New Utilizing Plant-Based Diets to Improve Diabetes Outcomes Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov
Amy Richards, PhD, RDN, LNAssociate Professor and DPD Director University of Tennessee at Martin (Originally presented on 03/22/23) |
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New Simple to Advanced Approaches to Carbohydrate Counting Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov
Kibbe Brown, MS, RDNutrition Consultant Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention Wendy Castle, MPH, RD, LD, CDCES Clinical Training Coordinator Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention (Originally presented on 03/08/23) |
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New Understanding Food Security in Indian Country: Results from the Survey of Native Communities’ Food Access During Covid-19 Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov
Whitney SawneyNative American Agriculture Fund Director of Communications and Policy Katie Jacobs, MPH, RDN Food Research & Action Center Program Manager, Early Childhood Programs and Food Systems (Originally presented on 03/01/23) |
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New The Impact of Social Determinants of Health on Type 2 Diabetes in Indigenous Communities Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov
Dr. Melissa WallsBloomberg Associate Professor of American Health (Originally presented on 12/21/22) |
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Hilary Seligman MD MAS Professor at the University of California San Francisco (Originally presented on 12/14/22) |
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New An All-of-Government Approach to Diabetes Prevention and Control: Report from the 2022 Federal Diabetes Commission Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov
Dean Schillinger MDUCSF Professor of Medicine in Residence Division of General Internal Medicine (Originally presented on 11/09/22) |
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New Case Management: Practicing Population Health to Engage Patients as Partners in Care Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov
Krista Haven, RN, MSN, CDEDiabetes Nurse Specialist (Originally presented on 11/02/22) |
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New Using the Nutrition Facts Label to Achieve the Healthy People 2030 Goals Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov
Mark A. Kantor, Ph.D.Nutrition Scientist (Originally presented on 10/19/22) |
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New Diabetes Prevention and Culture Revitalization through Breastfeeding and Chestfeeding Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov
Kimberly Moore-Salas, IBCLCPresident/Consultant Tribal Indemnity, LLC Amanda Singer, CLC, Indigenous Doula Executive Director Navajo Breastfeeding Coalition (Originally presented on 08/31/22) |
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Jonathan Q. Purnell, MD Interim Director, Center for Preventive Cardiology Professor, Department of Medicine Knight Cardiovascular Institute Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Clinical Nutrition Oregon Health & Science University (Originally presented on 04/13/22) |
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New Nutrition for Kidney Health: Preventing and Managing Kidney Disease Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov
Maria Kofas, MSPH, RDN, LNPublic Health Nutritionist Billings Area Telenutrition Program Specialist (Originally presented on 03/29/22) |
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Tonya S. Wapskineh, MPH Center for Indigenous Health Research and Policy Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences (Originally presented on 03/23/22) |
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Flora Deacon Indigenous Chef, Alaska and Melissa A. Chlupach, MS, RD, LD Assistant Professor, Dietetics and Nutrition University of Alaska Anchorage (Originally presented on 03/16/22) |
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New What Can I Eat? Diabetes Nutrition Education Curriculum for American Indian and Alaska Native Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov
Sarah Stotz, PhD, MS, RDN, CDEResearch Assistant Professor Centers for American Indian and Alaska Native Health Colorado School of Public Health (Originally presented on 03/01/22) |
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