Diabetes and Healthy Eating

The American Association of DiabetesEducators and the authors of the commentary“Diabetes and Healthy Eating: A SystematicReview of Dietary Interventions”1 are to becommended for their efforts to define and examine the state of self-management evidence. However, it is not surprising that the systematic review of healthy eating did not reveal a clear pattern of food and nutrition interventions leading to outcomes of weight, fat intake, saturated fat, and carbohydrate. In 1994, the American Diabetes Association (ADA) stated, “Today there is no ONE ‘diabetic ’ or ‘ADA ’ diet.”2 To be effective, medical nutrition therapy (MNT) requires an individualized approach, with nutrition recommendations and interven-tions developed to meet treatment goals and desired out-comes. It is essential that nutrition assessment be used to determine what the individual with diabetes is able and willing to do. Nutrition interventions are then imple-mented by nutrition education and counseling. Thi