Clinical Practice Guide for Integrating Diabetes-Specific Nutritional Formulas into Diabetes Care: Evidence Review and Expert Consensus

Background/Objectives: Achieving a balanced wholefood diet while stabilising glycaemic management is challenging for many people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) due to barriers such as food preparation skills, time, and medication effects. Diabetes-specific nutritional formulas (DSNFs) are nutritionally complete products designed to support glycaemic management and overall nutritional adequacy and may complement wholefood dietary approaches when these are not feasible or are insufficient. Despite growing clinical evidence of efficacy, practical guidance for routine use is limited. Methods: A multidisciplinary expert working group developed a Clinical Practice Guide (CPG) for integrating DSNFs 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 (individual 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 DSNFs as an adjunct to standard care, supporting translation of current evidence into clinical practice and promoting consistent, multidisciplinary implementation.