Good nutrition has long been recognized as a key tenet of diabetes management. Those who take the time to learn about and implement good nutrition and lifestyle modifications, including regular exercise and medication adjustments, can make huge progress in their diabetes control.

Similar to how other aspects of diabetes management have evolved and progressed with the introduction of new tools and technology, the knowledge and understanding of the role of nutrition in diabetes management has also advanced, thanks to science.

Recent research shows that remission of type 2 diabetes is possible for some individuals using certain interventions, like following very low-calorie diets.

“We have seen encouraging results when individuals with type 2 diabetes participate in a multifaceted weight management program,” said Osama Hamdy, MD, PhD, Joslin Diabetes Center’s medical director, Obesity Clinical Program and Director of Inpatient Diabetes Program.

“Following a very low-calorie diet and time-restricted fasting for 16 hours helps individuals with type 2 diabetes lose weight, which ultimately can induce diabetes remission.”

While very low-calorie diets may work for some individuals, others with diabetes may benefit from personalized medical nutrition therapy to manage their condition.

“Speaking with a healthcare professional can help individuals develop a nutrition plan that is customized to their needs and lifestyle; but nutrition recommendations can be hard to customize to specific cultures or lifestyles,” said Jose Rodolfo Dimaano Jr., MD, area medical director for Pacific Asia at Abbott.

“For this reason, Abbott and an international group of experts developed the transcultural Diabetes Nutrition Algorithm—a global diabetes nutrition care model that translates nutrition recommendations based on cultural differences in diets and lifestyle to improve diabetes management and outcomes.”

Local experts have started to adapt tDNA in many regions and countries around the world.

A clinical trial in Malaysia studied the effect of implementing tDNA in the country and found that a lifestyle intervention program using tDNA helped adults with type 2 diabetes improve their diabetes control and body weight.

Nutritional tools, like tDNA, and advancing research, like studies looking at the potential impact of weight management programs that incorporate lifestyle modifications like low-calorie/low-carbohydrates diets, can empower healthcare professionals and individuals with type 2 diabetes to successfully manage their condition.