Provider Evaluation of a Lower Carbohydrate Nutrition Education Video for People with Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Background: 30.3 million people in the United States (U.S.) have Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (DMI) and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DMII). 1.5 million Americans are diagnosed with DM each year. Blood glucose (BG) levels above the recommended range increase risk of complications for people with DMI, yet few succeed in achieving BG targets. The first and most important treatment recommendation for DM is lifestyle management counseling for increasing physical activity and improving dietary intake. Recent evidence shows that substituting protein for carbohydrates improves health outcomes, and that reducing carbohydrate intake is the most effective dietary strategy to improve BG levels for people with DM. An evidence-based electronic resource such as a video to assist providers in providing lifestyle counseling with an emphasis on lower-carbohydrate nutrition is an excellent way to improve patient outcomes. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to support provider practice by providing a lower-carbohydrate nutrition education video for use with people with DMI and DMII. Methods: This Doctor of Nurse Practitioner (DNP) project is a quality improvement (QI) project using a quantitative descriptive methodology with a one-group, pre-test-post-test design to compare provider satisfaction with and intent to utilize an educational video on lower-carbohydrate nutrition for people desiring to improve their health. Results: The results of this QI project indicate that prior to the lower-carbohydrate nutrition education video provided by this project, providers at Spectrum Healthcare Clinic did not have or use a lower-carbohydrate nutrition education video in their clinic. Providers had an extremely positive reaction to the video, and rated the video as very well made. They rated the video as likely to be very beneficial for people with DMI and DMII. Providers indicated that they would definitely utilize the video in their practice and would definitely recommend it to colleagues. Conclusion: Research supports educating people with DMI and DMII on lowering carbohydrate intake using video technology with real people sharing the information. A lower-carbohydrate nutrition education video produced by this project was favorably received and supportive of provider practice for use with DMI and DMII people.