The Impact of Nutrition Education on Post-Surgical Weight Maintenance and Glycemic Control

among Renal Transplant Patients

A. Rosenberg, M. McCarthy, M. Lasarev, D. Stadler
After attending this poster session, members of the audience will be able to:
1. Describe the impact of nutrition education on post-transplant weight management and glycemic
control.
Background: New Onset Diabetes After Transplant (NODAT) is a complex disorder linked to risk factors
such as obesity, post-transplant weight gain, and corticosteroid and immunosuppressive agents used after
transplant. Non-pharmaceutical interventions that help patients maintain their weight and glucose control
are needed to lower the risk of developing NODAT.
Methods: We measured the effect of nutrition education on the maintenance of body weight and glycemic
control in kidney transplant recipients (n=7) compared to propensity score-matched historical controls
(n=14) who received kidney transplants at the same institution but did not receive nutrition education.
Weight, immunosuppressant and diabetes treatment regimen, plasma creatinine concentrations, and
glomerular filtration rate were measured before, at hospital discharge, and six and twelve weeks after
transplant. Participant-centered education was tailored to address responses to open-ended questions
about the participants current diet. Nutrition education was based on The Plate Method promoted by the
American Diabetes Association and was delivered two weeks after transplant surgery.
Results: Between discharge and six weeks after transplant surgery, control subjects lost an average of 3.8
kg (p=0.025), while intervention subjects lost an average of 3.9 kg (p=0.09). This difference was not
significant (p=0.97). Between six and twelve weeks after surgery, control subjects lost an average of 3.6
kg (p=0.002), while those in the intervention lost an average of 4.3 kg (p=0.010). This difference was not
significant (p=0.696).
Conclusion: In this small sample size, we were unable to detect a difference in post-transplant weight
gain or in change in status regarding diabetes treatment.