(P08-006-23) Effectiveness of Medical Nutrition Therapy for Patients Utilizing a Community Health Clinic To Support Diabetes Management

Objectives: Previous research supports significant improvements in laboratory and anthropometric measures for patients with nutrition-related chronic conditions receiving medical nutrition therapy (MNT), however, there is minimal research on the effectiveness of MNT services with vulnerable and low income patient populations. Due to barriers affecting health, immigrant Hispanic/Latinx patients receiving care at a free community health clinic in the Twin Cities metro, are at disproportionately higher risk for nutrition-related chronic diseases. The primary purpose of the study is to determine the effectiveness of MNT for patients diagnosed with pre-diabetes and/or diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) and obesity at reducing hemoglobin A1c (A1c) and weight compared to patients who did not receive nutrition intervention.

Methods: A retrospective chart review of 96 patients (67 women and 29 men) diagnosed with pre-diabetes and/or DM2 with a body mass index greater than 30 kg/m2 was used to evaluate A1c and weight pre- and post-MNT sessions in an age and disease-matched control group (did not receive MNT) (n=31) and two therapy groups (Group (GRP) 1 received MNT 1 time (n=32), GRP 2 received MNT 2 or more times (n=33)) over 6 months. Paired t-tests were conducted and analysis controlled for medication changes.

Results: Of the 96 patients sampled, 21.9% self-reported food insecurity. Mean age of the sample is 46.9 ± 8.8 years, with no significant differences between groups. A difference in mean weight change between the control group and GRP2 (+4.8 ± 12.8 lbs vs -1.51 ± 10.01 lbs, p< 0.05), but not for GRP1. Moreover, there was a significant reduction for mean difference in A1c in GRP 2 (-0.67% ± 1.52%) compared to the control (+0.2%± 1.10%)(p < 0.01), however, similar trends found no significant difference for GRP1 (-0.18%± 1.27%) (p=0.25).

Conclusions: Our research suggests that for patients with pre-diabetes and/or DM2, seeking out two or more sessions of MNT counseling could support changes in A1c and/or weight. Further research is needed to understand the role of MNT in supporting reduction of A1c and weight to support longevity and aging.

Funding Sources: No funding sources to disclose