3 benefits of working with a diabetes dietitian

Living with diabetes can mean more time spent with healthcare providers than you might like. You may have a primary care doctor, an endocrinologist, an eye specialist, and more. While you may not be eager to add more medical appointments to your calendar, a diabetes dietitian is one provider who should definitely be on your agenda. In this article, we'll take a look at three main benefits of working with a Registered Dietitian (RD) who specializes in diabetes care.

Meal planning for more enjoyment

Sometimes people think of Registered Dietitians as the "food police", but RDs actually work to help their clients include as wide a variety of foods as possible in their everyday diets. Dietitians know the nutritional composition of food, and they also understand how different ways of preparing food change its nutritional value. A dietitian who specializes in diabetes will work with you to help you include as many of your favorite foods as possible in your eating plan while still keeping your blood sugar levels in range.

If you have trouble with food avoidance, food restriction, or binge eating, an RD can help with that, too. In conjunction with your mental health provider, an RD can help you determine what triggers any disordered eating patterns. Your RD will help you come up with a plan to avoid those triggers and minimize their impact on your health when they do occur.

Lastly, if your eating plan could use an upgrade, a diabetes dietitian can help you determine what steps you want to take to get back on track. An RD will look at your current nutrition-related data — body weight, BMI, A1C, time in range, and blood cholesterol levels — and help you to understand your risk of common diabetes complications such as heart disease.

Your RD will ask you what steps you want to take to change that risk, if any, and work with you to develop a step-wise plan to achieve your goals. Think of your diabetes dietitian as your partner in maximizing your longevity, not someone who enjoys taking away your favorite foods.

Safe weight management

There's a great deal of emphasis on body weight in our culture. Quick-fix and fad diets are everywhere, and the people and companies who promote them feed on our desire to measure up to a certain aesthetic. Unfortunately, many of these diets can be dangerous for the general public, and they can be especially dangerous for people living with diabetes. When a person who is not well-informed attempts to manipulate their carbohydrate intake and insulin levels in order to lose weight, wide swings in blood glucose can occur. This could potentially lead to severe hypo- or hyperglycemia, hospitalization, and even death.

Registered Dietitians understand that you can maintain good health within a range of body weights. Your ideal weight depends on your genetics and muscle mass.

Some people who live with diabetes have trouble gaining weight, and other people seem to gain weight very easily. Your diabetes dietitian can help you determine the appropriate weight range for your body. They can also work with you to determine a safe and healthy eating and physical activity plan so that you can gradually achieve your weight goal without putting your health at risk.

Better blood sugar control

Registered Dietitians are well-versed in the composition of food, so they can help you understand which foods will raise your blood sugar levels and which foods you can eat freely. Research has shown that people living with diabetes who receive Medical Nutrition Therapy (nutrition counseling provided by a Registered Dietitian) have A1Cs that are 1% to 2% lower than the A1Cs of people living with diabetes who don't meet with RDs.

A 1% to 2% reduction in A1C is nothing to sneeze at: Oral hypoglycemia agents (pills) given to people living with type 2 diabetes reduce A1C levels by 0.4% to 2.0% each. Similarly, the reduction in A1C that can be achieved with the non-insulin injectable semaglutide is approximately 2%.

How to find a diabetes dietitian

In a study of more than 18,000 people living with diabetes, only 9% had seen a Registered Dietitian at least once in the previous nine years. However, the American Diabetes Association recommends that anyone diagnosed with diabetes meet with a Registered Dietitian soon after diagnosis and that they receive ongoing Medical Nutrition Therapy. If you're ready to start working with an RD, there are a few things to keep in mind.

First, it's important to recognize that not all nutritionists are Registered Dietitians. In some states, anyone can use the term "nutritionist" even if they have no formal education. All Registered Dietitians have a bachelor's degree in nutrition as well as an additional year of training. They have also passed a national certification exam and are required to complete continuing education, which ensures that they keep their skills up-to-date. More than 50% of RDs have a master's degree, and all new RDs will be required to have a master's degree beginning in 2024.

Second, know that some RDs are generalists, but other RDs specialize in helping people with specific conditions. There are dietitians who specialize in pediatrics, oncology, gastrointestinal disease, and more. If diabetes is your main concern, look for a Registered Dietitian who is also a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist. These RDs have several years of experience working with people who live with diabetes, and they have passed an additional national exam certifying their competence in diabetes care. You can use the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education "Locate a CDCES" page and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics "Find a Nutrition Expert" page to help you select a diabetes dietitian.

Want to know more about how better nutrition can help you minimize complications of diabetes? Read 5 nutritions strategies for a healthy heart.