Diabetes And Dieticians
Food is a key part of diabetes management, and key part of life. A dietician is an expert on food and nutrition. A dietician can help you figure out how much food you need to eat depending upon your lifestyle, weight, insulin requirements, pill requirements (diabetes treatment), and any other drugs you may be taking.
They can also show you:
how to make a meal plan that fits your way of eating
how to make sense of food labels
how to make wise food choices when you shop
how to find cookbooks
how to find food guides
how to figure out the way certain foods affect your
weight, blood glucose and fat levels
how to treat low blood sugar
A registered dietician will have "RD" after their name, which stands for "registered dietician". A registered dietician has met standards set by the American Dietetic Association and may also have a masters degree. If you see "LD" after a name means "licensed dietician" since many states require a license.
Try to find a dietician who has worked with people who have diabetes. This will make it easier for you to ask questions and get the help you need. If the person has the letters "CDE" after their name that means they are a Certified Diabetes Educator. This means the person is trained and up-to-date in diabetes care and education.
You can find a dietician by asking your doctor, local hospital or clinic for references. You might also ask your friends and family if they can recommend anyone to you.
When it comes to diabetes management try to take advantage of all the professional help you can get. If your HMO or insurance carrier offers a free or low-cost visit to the dietician take advantage of it.
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