Feasibility and efficacy of menu planning combined with individual counselling to improve health outcomes and dietary adherence in people with type 2 diabetes: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility and efficacy of implementing a 4-week menu plan combined with individual counselling among people with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

A 12-week pilot study with a pretest and post-test design was conducted among 15 participants with type 2 diabetes. The menu plan incorporated the overall recommendations of the Canadian Diabetes Association nutrition therapy guidelines and considered factors such as the accessibility, availability and acceptability of foods. Change in glycated hemoglobin (A1C) was the primary outcome, and secondary outcomes were changes in serum lipid, anthropometric and dietary measures.

RESULTS

Mean (±SD) age of the participants was 59.3±9.9 years, and duration of diabetes was 8.1±8.3 years. After the program, A1C decreased by 1.0%±0.86% (p<0.05). There were significant reductions (p<0.05) in weight, body mass index, waist circumference and fat mass and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. No significant changes were observed in dietary measures except for perceived dietary adherence score, which increased significantly (p<0.05). Participants reported using the menu plan an average of 5.0±1.9 days a week and attended, on average, 4 of 6 counselling sessions.

CONCLUSIONS

Menu planning and individual counselling were demonstrated to be feasible and effective for diabetes management, and they represent a simple and practical approach to implement the nutritional recommendations for diabetes in Canada.