A panel of 27 experts convened to rate and determine which of the top forty diets was best? It is like the Oscar’s for the best meal plan.

They scored each diet approach based on:

• Ease of following
• Ability to produce short and long-term weight loss
• Nutritional completeness
• Safety
• Potential for preventing diabetes and CVD.

The U.S. News and World Report Health Team of 27 experts, rated over 40 different diets with a score of one to five, five being the highest score.

The winning meal plan focuses on whole grain, fruits, and vegetables with lean proteins. It also ranked first in the categories of best diets for healthy eating, easiest diets to follow, best diets for diabetes, and best plant-based diets; it tied with best heart-healthy diets for the No. 1 spot.

There was a clear choice for the winner “because it is really not a diet. It is more a lifestyle of eating”, said Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, MPA, MBA, FAAP, FACP, FAHA, FAMWA, FTOS, a Healio Primary Care Peer Perspective Board Member and one of the U.S. News & World Report panelists.

For the fifth year in a row, the Mediterranean Diet took home the Nutrition Oscar for best meal planning approach by the U.S. News & World Report. It was also ranked as the best meal plan for people living with diabetes followed in second place by the Flexitarian Diet.

The American Diabetes Association Standards also recognize the Mediterranean Diet, along with the Plate Method, Carbohydrate Counting, plant-based eating, and the DASH Diet as top contenders for healthy meal planning approaches based on current evidence. For people living with diabetes, the emphasis is on individualization. No one meal planning approach works for everyone. Plus, the cost of the plan is also a major factor in the decision-making process.

Most importantly, the ADA recommends a referral to a Registered Dietitian upon new diagnosis of diabetes and at least annually or if there is any change in health status. Studies show that meeting with an RD lowers A1c by 1-2%.

More resources from our Article Library

• Plant Based Eating Recipes and Resources
• Carbohydrate Counting Resources

Want to learn more about Medical Nutrition Therapy?

You are invited to join our Virtual Conference on April 13 -15th. Our expert speaker, Ashley LaBrier, MS, RD, CDCES, will be providing a half-day presentation on this important topic!

Virtual DiabetesEd Specialist Conference
30+ CEs | April 13-15, 2022

Whether you are new to diabetes or a seasoned expert, you’ll benefit from this virtual conference with the latest research plus critical content that you can immediately apply to your clinical practice.

If you are seeking a state-of-the-art review of current diabetes care, this course is for you. Our team has been fine-tuning this course for over fifteen years, and we know what you need. This program can also be a great addition to your CDCES or BC-ADM exam study plan.

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Join us LIVE for this Virtual Course and enjoy a sense of community!

Team of expert faculty includes:

• Diana Isaacs, PharmD, BCPS, BC-ADM, BCACP, CDCES – Educator of the Year, 2020
• Coach Beverly Thomassian, RN, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM
• Ashley LaBrier, MS, RD, CDCES, Diabetes Program Coordinator

 Download Course Schedule |  Download Course Flyer

Two Registration Options

Virtual DiabetesEd Specialist Conference Deluxe | 30+ CEs

Deluxe Option for $499: Virtual Program includes:

• Q & A Session with the instructor after each webinar.
• LIVE Presentations by our team of experts.
• State of the art review of current diabetes care and technology.
• Resources for each session.
• Access to free podcasts and video recordings within a week of each live session for one year.

Deluxe Version includes Syllabus, Standards and Swag*:

• Diabetes Educator Course 2022 Syllabus Hard Copy – over 100 pages -This spiral-bound workbook contains the printed version of all of the instructor’s slides.
• ADA 2022 Standards of Care Book -The ADA Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes is a key resource for healthcare professionals involved in diabetes care, education, and support.
• DiabetesEd Services highlighters, Medication PocketCard, Tote Bag and Pen

Virtual DiabetesEd Specialist Conference Basic | 30+ CEs

Deluxe Option for $499: Virtual Program includes:

• Q & A Session with the instructor after each webinar.
• LIVE Presentations by our team of experts.
• State of the art review of current diabetes care and technology.
• Resources for each session.
• Access to free podcasts and video recordings within a week of each live session for one year.

Don’t worry if you can’t make it live. Your registration guarantees access to the recorded version in the Online University.

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