Diabetes Central Blog

Finding a registered dietitian who is also a certified diabetes educator can make all the difference in your day.

For many people living with diabetes, the hardest part is eating. What used to be something you rarely thought about – and enjoyed with abandon – turns into a sometimes laborious job of planning, timing, counting, and resisting. Finding a good dietitian who is trained in all aspects of diabetes can make life much easier and may even be the ticket to managing your disease in the best way possible.

Here’s something you might not know. Anyone can call himself or herself a nutritionist. There is no legal definition and no centralized registration agency. So if you are considering seeing someone who has hung a shingle with this moniker, check their background and training. On the other hand, a registered (R.D.) has met academic and professional experience requirements by a commission of the American Dietetic Association. These requirements include a minimum of a bachelor’s degree with specific course work, as well as an accredited supervised practice program, similar to a clinical internship. Then, R.D’s must pass a national examination and meet continuing education requirements to maintain their status.
The easiest way to find a R.D/C.D.E.(Certified Diabetes Educator) is through your doctor or hospital.

Before making an appointment, spend some time thinking about your diet. What are your favorite foods, those you’d prefer not to live without? What is a typical breakfast for you? Lunch? What snacks do you usually eat and when? Be honest and realistic. Your dietitian needs to know how you really live, and will help you strategize so that eating can still be one of life’s pleasures.

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