What can a registered dietitian nutritionist do for you?

What Can a Dietitian Do For You?
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Healthy eating is one of the strategies to manage or prevent diabetes. Making informed food choices is essential to living well with and preventing diabetes. To help you sort through all the information on the best eating plans, schedule an appointment with a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN). They’ll help you navigate what will work best for you based on your health conditions, activity level, food preferences, culture, and so much more.  

What is a registered dietitian nutritionist? 

Registered dietitian nutritionists are food and nutrition experts that:  

  • Have at least a bachelor’s degree in nutrition (most have master’s degrees) 
  • Have completed at least 1,200 hours of supervised practice 
  • Have passed a national registration exam 
  • Stay up to date on the latest nutrition research and information through ongoing continuing education  

You may see dietitians with the following credentials, which are the letters that follow someone’s name (ex: Jane Doe, RDN). Pay attention to someone’s credentials when looking for a dietitian to ensure you’re getting the type of help you’re looking for from a qualified professional.  RD: Registered dietitian or RDN: Registered dietitian nutritionist 

A registered dietitian nutritionist may also have extra credentials:  

  • CD: Certified dietitian 
  • LD: Licensed dietitian 
  • CDCES: Certified diabetes care and education specialist (these professionals also specialize in diabetes education) 

Some people may call themselves “nutritionist” without these credentials—they are not qualified to give nutrition advice, and you should not seek care from them. Registered dietitian nutritionist are the only providers that are qualified to provide medical nutrition therapy.  

What to Expect When You Visit a Dietitian 

Believe it or not, food isn’t usually the first topic of discussion. Most dietitians will begin the visit by reviewing your family and medical history because these are key factors that affect your nutritional needs. Your personal history with food can also play an important role. For example, being raised in a home where sugary drinks, like juice and soda, were the only options may help explain a challenge that you face as an adult. Your dietitian is your teammate working with you to reach your health goals and sharing this information can help them better support you. 

Discussing Your Food Choices 

Now it’s time to talk about food. After understanding your history, the RDN will likely want to know about your food choices from day to day. It may be tempting to leave certain foods off the list, but remember, your dietitian is there to help you, not to judge your food choices. In fact, dietitians want to learn your favorites so they can work with you so you can have your favorite foods in a way that fits your eating plan.  

There is no eating plan that will work for everyone, and a dietitian will not push an eating plan on you. Instead, RDNs will review your history, understand the types of foods you like, and partner with you to add more food options, healthy swaps, and variety to what you eat.   

Setting Your Goals 

While registered dietitian-nutritionists are food and nutrition experts, you are the expert on yourself. After talking about your eating habits, a RDN will ask what changes are most important to you and team up with you to set small, realistic goals. If you don’t drink much water and it is important to you to drink more, then a small goal may be to try flavoring your water with herbs, lemon, or lime and add a glass or two of water each day as your goal. It’s all about setting small goals, and you will need to make the changes along the way, but your dietitian will be there to give you ways to reach your goals, help you track how you’re doing, and cheer you on each step of the way.   

Paying for Your Visit 

The cost of visiting a dietitian varies, but medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is covered by many different insurance plans and Medicare. Check with Medicare or your individual insurance provider to learn about coverage details.  
 
If you believe working with a dietitian will be helpful on your journey to wellness, ask for a referral from your doctor. You can also get started now by finding a dietitian in your area

Registered Dietitian Nutritionist Guidance from the ADA 

The American Diabetes Association’s dietitians offer guidance on Diabetes Food Hub blogs, recipes, and online cooking classes (where you will learn how to make a diabetes-friendly meal and can ask questions live of an ADA nutrition expert and the chef). Diabetes Food Hub also has tools to help you create meals, including the meal planner and grocery list generator!