Living Well -- Diet And Nutrition

33 How do I know when I should see a registered dietitian?

See a registered dietitian (RD) when your diabetes is first diagnosed, when a new doctor changes your treatment plan, or twice a year for a routine review of your meal plan and goals. See the RD more often if:

• You want to improve diabetes control.

• You experience lifestyle or schedule changes, such as a new job, marriage, or pregnancy.

• Your nutritional needs keep changing (this is true for children).

• You've begun an exercise program or had a change in diabetes medication.

• You feel bored, frustrated, or unmotivated to use your meal plan.

• You have unexplained high and low blood-sugar levels.

• You're concerned about weight or blood-fat levels.

• You've developed nutrition-related complications, such as high blood pressure or kidney disease.

We recommend having an RD on your diabetes team. Ask your doctor or hospital for a referral. You can call the American Diabetes Association (800-DIABETES), The American Dietetic Association (800-877-1600), or the American Association of Diabetes Educators (800-TEAM-UP-4) for referrals. Many RDs are certified diabetes educators (CDEs) and have additional training in diabetes care.

The above excerpt is a digitally scanned reproduction of text from print. Although this excerpt has been proofread, occasional errors may appear due to the scanning process. Please refer to the finished book for accuracy.

The above is an excerpt from the book What to Expect When You Have Diabetes
by The American Diabetes Association
Published by Good Books; June 2008;$9.95US; 978-1-56148-630-4
Copyright © 2008 The American Diabetes Association

Author Bio
The American Diabetes Association is the nation's leading voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information, and advocacy. Its mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. The American Diabetes Association is the leading publisher of comprehensive diabetes information. Its huge library of practical and authoritative books for people with diabetes covers every aspect of self-care-cooking and nutrition, fitness, weight control, medications, complications, emotional issues, and general self-care.