Diet Considerations and Physical Activity for Pre-Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome
The medical nutrition therapy goals for pre-diabetes and metabolic syndrome involve maintaining a healthy weight and physical activity to treat the underlying causes, insulin resistance and sedentary lifestyle.
Diet Considerations
Healthy eating to prevent or treat pre-diabetes and metabolic syndrome includes:
- An abundance of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables
- Legumes (dried beans, soy products, split peas, lentils), low fat dairy products, fish, and poultry as primary protein sources
- Moderate amounts of fat from canola or olive oil and nuts
- Reduced amounts of red meats and refined carbohydrates, especially sweets and high sugar beverages
- Reduced sodium from processed foods
Diet and Physical Activity Goals and Recommendations
| Goal | Specific Recommendations |
| Increase physical activity | 150 minutes minimum per week |
| Maintain a healthy weight | At least a loss of 7% of initial body weight (if BMI = 25.0 kg/m2) |
| Decrease total fat and saturated fat | Total fat not greater than 25-35% of calories; saturated fat not greater than 7% of calories |
| Emphasize monounsaturated fat | Up to 20% of total calories |
| Decrease sugar and excess starch | Not greater than 50-60% calories from carbohydrates, with emphasis on whole grains, fruits, and vegetables |
| Decrease sodium | Not greater than 2400 mg/day |
| Increase fiber | Up to 25-30 g/day |
| Increase antioxidants | Up to nine servings of fruits and vegetables per day |
| Increase dietary Magnesium, Calcium, Potassium |
Per 2000 calories:
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