P917 - IMPACT OF MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY ON DIABETES MANAGEMENT IN OLDER ADULTS

P917

IMPACT OF MEDICAL NUTRITION THERAPY ON DIABETES MANAGEMENT IN OLDER ADULTS

A. A. Alfehaidi^1,*

¹HMC, Doha, Qatar

Rationale: Diabetes mellitus in older adults presents unique challenges due to age-related changes and comorbidities. This quality improvement project assessed the effectiveness of a structured, age-appropriate Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) intervention on glycemic control, medication requirements, and quality of life in adults aged 65 and older with type 2 diabetes in an outpatient setting.

Methods: A prospective intervention study with 48 older adults (mean age 72.3 years) with suboptimal glycemic control (HbA1c >7.5%) provided individualized Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) from clinical dietitians using a geriatric-specific protocol. The intervention included meal planning, simplified carbohydrate counting, and family education, with primary outcomes measured at baseline and 3-month follow-up, focusing on changes in HbA1c, hypoglycemic events, and medication requirements.

Results: Following the 3-month MNT intervention, mean HbA1c decreased significantly from 8.4% to 7.6% (p<0.01). Hypoglycemic events decreased by 38%, and 42% of participants achieved medication reduction. Participants demonstrated improved nutritional knowledge (32% increase in assessment scores) and dietary adherence (56% improvement in self-reported compliance). Secondary outcomes showed modest improvements in blood pressure control and weight management. Quality of life scores improved in 68% of participants.

Conclusion: Structured MNT interventions tailored to older adults' specific needs significantly improved diabetes management outcomes. Results highlight the importance of age-appropriate nutritional strategies that consider cognitive function, polypharmacy, and social support systems. Integration of specialized MNT protocols into standard geriatric diabetes care may reduce complications and healthcare utilization while enhancing quality of life in this vulnerable population.

Disclosure of Interest: None declared