Clinical Practice Guide for Integrating Diabetes-Specific Nutri-tional Formulas into Diabetes Care: Evidence Review and Ex-pert Consensus

Background/Objectives: Achieving a balanced wholefood diet while stabilising glycae-mic management is challenging for many people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) due to barri-ers such as food preparation skills, time, and medication effects. Diabetes-specific nutri-tional formulas (DSNF) are nutritionally complete products designed to support glycae-mic management and overall nutritional adequacy and may complement wholefood die-tary approaches when these are not feasible or are insufficient. Despite growing clinical evidence of efficacy, practical guidance for routine use is limited. Methods: A multidisci-plinary expert working group developed a Clinical Practice Guide (CPG) for integrating DSNF into diabetes care. Development was informed by a literature review and iterative consensus among experts, including representatives of the Australian Diabetes Society, Australian Diabetes Educators Association, and the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. Results: The CPG outlines a three-step pathway: (1) Assess suitability (clinical indications, contraindications, preferences, cultural context); (2) Tailor the approach (indi-vidual goals, dose/timing relative to weight and body composition goals and observed glycaemic patterns, integration with lifestyle care); and (3) Monitor progress (baseline, 2–4 weeks to assess initial response, then 3, 6, and 12 months for glycaemic indices, weight/body composition where available, and medication review). Conclusions: This CPG provides practical, multidisciplinary guidance for the person-centred use of DSNF as an adjunct to standard care, supporting translation of current evidence into clinical prac-tice and promoting consistent, multidisciplinary implementation.