Medical Nutrition Therapy for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Second Edition

Medical Nutrition Therapy for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Second Edition is organized by Wolf Rinke Associates, Inc.

Program expire: The programs are approved for one year from date of purchase. All programs are stamped with a "Complete by" date.

Overview and Instructions:
Changes have also been made in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (Academy) 2016 nutrition practice guideline (NPG) for gestational diabetes (Academy, 2016). This important guideline, based on a systematic review of evidence, outlines optimal nutrition therapy and desired clinical outcomes. The emphasis is on individualizing the nutrition prescription based on nutrition assessment, treatment goals, a caloric intake for fetal and maternal health, amount and type of carbohydrate based on blood glucose responses, and the women’s unique cultural and socioeconomic needs.

This continuing professional education (CPE) program is written to assist nutrition professionals (RDNs; nutrition and dietetic technicians, registered [NDTR]; and others) to become familiar with the changes in the GDM field and how they impact on their practice. Chapter 1 reviews screening and the controversy over how to diagnose GDM. Chapter 2 reviews the pathophysiology and maternal and fetal risks of GDM. Management goals, glucose monitoring, self-management education, physical activity, surveillance during pregnancy, and delivery and post-delivery postpartum care are covered in Chapter 3. Chapter 4 summarizes MNT for GDM based on the updated Academy’s NPG. Medical therapies for GDM, including glucose-lowering medications and insulin, are reviewed in Chapter 5. Chapter 6 covers the important role that nutrition professionals, and lifestyle changes, can make in preventing future diabetes in women diagnosed with GDM during their pregnancies.

Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this accredited, self-directed learning program, the nutrition professional should be able to:
• State the definition of gestational diabetes and screening criteria for testing for diabetes or prediabetes at the first prenatal visit in asymptomatic pregnant women.
• Describe the two diagnostic criteria for GDM and assess the reasons for the controversy on which criteria should be implemented.
• Explain the pathophysiology of glucose intolerance during pregnancy.
• Identify maternal and fetal complications if glucose control is not achieved.
• Recommend glucose goals for women with GDM.
• Apply the GDM management interventions—self-management education, glucose monitoring, MNT, and physical activity, that apply to all women with GDM, and medications if glucose target goals are not met.
• Recognize the MNT goals during pregnancy.
• Implement assessments needed in order to provide MNT for GDM.
• Plan and implement nutrition interventions for women with GDM.
• Apply energy and weight gain recommendations for normal weight and obese women with GDM.
• Apply recommendations for carbohydrate, protein, fat, and micronutrient intakes for GDM.
• Implement an individualized eating plan.
• Recommend guidelines and precautions for physical activity.
• Recognize emotional responses of women diagnosed with GDM.
• Monitor and evaluate outcomes from MNT and identify the need to add pharmacologic therapy.
• Evaluate pharmacologic therapies and discuss issues related to the use of glucose-lowering medications during GDM pregnancies
• Describe the use of insulin in GDM.
• Provide or plan for follow-up and ongoing nutrition care for the woman with GDM.
• Implement recommendations for postpartum glucose evaluation.
• Plan and implement strategies for the prevention of T2D in women with prior GDM.