Carbohydrates, Appetite and Weight – Understanding the Impact Beyond Calories
May 19 @ 12:45 pm – 2:00 pm
Beyond HbA1c: Modern Diabetes Care in Primary Care Nursing
The third in a series of three one-hour Lunch & Learn sessions designed for nurses working in general practice, focusing on contemporary diabetes care beyond glycaemic control.
Session 3 Carbohydrates, Appetite and Weight: Understanding the Impact Beyond Calories
Session overview/content:
This session examines the role of dietary carbohydrates in glycaemic control, appetite
regulation, and weight management. It will explore the concepts of glycaemic index, glycaemic
load, and insulin index, and how different carbohydrate choices can influence hunger, insulin
response, and weight outcomes. The session is designed to support nurses in having more
effective, evidence-based conversations about diet with people living with type 2 diabetes.
Aim:
To enable primary care nurses to better understand how carbohydrate quality and insulin
response influence glycaemic control, appetite, and weight in people with type 2 diabetes.
Learning objectives:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Explain the difference between glycaemic index, glycaemic load, and insulin index
- Understand how different carbohydrates affect blood glucose and insulin response
- Recognise the link between insulin resistance, appetite, and weight gain
- Appreciate why some dietary approaches may hinder weight loss despite calorie
control - Support patients with practical, realistic dietary advice to improve glycaemic control
and satiety
Speaker: Tracy Kirk – Director of Education at the Primary Care Respiratory Training Centre.
