The implementation of nutrition guidelines in type 2 diabetes can be met with a reasonable investment of resources and improvement in metabolic control. Additional research should be conducted before more intensive nutrition intervention can be recommended as the preferred approach for patients with type 2 diabetes. The defined outcome for the cost-effectiveness analysis was the effect of nutrition care on glycemic control at 6 months as measured by changes from baseline in levels of fasting plasma glucose and glycated hemoglobin. Costs were limited to those for direct health care as documented through an accounting approach. Sensitivity analysis showed that the relative cost-effectiveness of guidelines care versus basic care was unchanged by dietitian salary or additional laboratory testing.
Results show that nutrition therapy can be provided in a cost-effective manner.
Additional information is needed, however, before more intensive nutrition intervention can be recommended as the preferred approach for type 2 patients. To assess the impact of diet and exercise on glycemic control and quality of life in patients with type 2 diabetes. Randomized clinical trial. Additional studies of nonpharmacologic intervention for patients with type 2 diabetes are needed using larger sample sizes. The control group received lectures from a variety of health care specialists but no specific behavior modification plans.