WHOLESOME
FUEL
ALISHA VIRANI MS, RD, CDCES
DID YOU KNOW?
Consistent medical nutrition therapy and diabetes care education can help individuals develop the skills and education to successfully manage daily diabetes care, whether you are newly diagnosed or someone who has been living with diabetes for a while. A registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist is trained to help create a sustainable action plan by addressing the following:
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Assist with understanding prescribed medications including insulin use and proper injection technique.
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Discuss pattern management (adjusting medication based on your glucose logs in accordance to your providers recommendations).
- Assess current diet for nutritional adequacy for diabetes and overall health.
- Understand how exercise impacts health and diabetes management.
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Provide tips for healthy coping.
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Use Medical Nutrition Therapy which “Is an evidence-based medical approach to treating certain chronic conditions (i.e. diabetes) through the use of an individually-tailored nutrition plan.”- Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
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Provide education on use of diabetes devices (i.e. blood glucose meter, insulin pump, etc.)
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Create a long term plan to mitigate risks of complications. This requires analyzing gender, cultural preferences, racial/ethnic identity, economic status, financial resources, values, goals, expectations, age, genetics, resiliency, coping skills, time management skills, health literacy, etc.
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Develop meal plans to target specific goals (i.e. blood sugar management, blood pressure, cholesterol, chronic kidney disease, weight management, etc).