Diabetes Nutrition and Weight Loss Counseling
Discover a healthier future with Hunt Regional Healthcare’s comprehensive diabetes care services. Our dedicated team is here to guide you on your journey to maintaining optimal blood sugar levels. Gain valuable knowledge about managing your diabetes through tailored education, empowering you with the tools to make informed decisions about your health.
Nutrition Counseling for Diabetes
Proper nutrition is an essential part of managing diabetes. But just because it’s important, doesn’t mean it has to be complicated. Many people are of the belief that those with diabetes must stick to a very strict and special diet. But the truth is, if you have diabetes, your general dietary needs are pretty much the same as everyone else’s. What you really need is a strong awareness of the food choices you are making – this is where our experts can help.
At Hunt Regional Healthcare, our registered dietitians can help you better understand the “science of nutrition,” and teach you how to pick the right foods to manage your diabetes. Additionally, our experts will also take time to review your diabetes diagnosis, personal dietary history and nutritional needs. When you meet with one of our registered dietitians, he or she will:
Review your current eating habits
Evaluate your current nutritional status
Help determine your nutritional needs
Help you set personal nutrition goals
Educate you on how to make good food choices
Assist you with diabetes meal planning – both for eating in and dining out
All of our diabetes nutrition sessions are by appointment and require a referral from your doctor. To get started, have a conversation with your primary care physician or specialist about diabetes self-management through nutrition counseling. We also encourage you to learn more about our other services, which include diabetes education and weight loss counseling.
Did you know that being overweight or obese is common among those who have Type 2 diabetes? According to the Centers for Disease Control, those who have a body mass index (BMI) of 25-29 are considered overweight, and those who have a BMI of 30+ are designated as obese.
Do you know what your current body mass index is? Calculate your BMI.
Having an awareness of your weight and body mass index is important, especially if you have diabetes. Not only does extra weight contribute to high blood sugar, it can cause high cholesterol and high blood pressure levels, leading to an increased risk for heart disease and stroke. This makes weight loss a vital part of diabetes management for many people who have been diagnosed.
At Hunt Regional Healthcare, our diabetes weight loss counseling team can help you determine:
Your current weight and BMI
Your target weight and BMI
From there, we can aid you in managing your weight as well as your Type 2 diabetes, by helping you adopt positive lifestyle changes – namely, changes in the way you eat and exercise.
Thinking about the way you are currently eating, do you:
Know how many calories you consume each day?
Know how many calories you should be consuming each day?
Make it a point to eat breakfast each day?
Know which foods you should be incorporating into your diet?
Know which foods you should be eating in moderation?
Try to control your portion sizes?
Consume alcohol in moderation?
If the answer is no to any of the above, our team can help you get the diabetes nutrition guidance you need. Registered dietitians are available to:
Evaluate your current nutritional status
Help you determine your nutritional needs
Help you set nutrition goals
Educate you on how to make healthy food choices geared toward weight loss and diabetes management
In addition to eating well, being physically active is another way to support healthy weight loss and diabetes management. Work with our team to learn:
How often you should be exercising
Which types of exercises are effective at burning fat/calories
Which activities are a good fit for your personal needs/limitations
Additional lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking or the use of other tobacco products, and managing stress can also aid in weight management.
To learn more about weight loss counseling at Hunt Regional or our other diabetes self-management services, give us a call at 903.408.5130.
