Diet Free Diabetes Dietitian

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I am Diet Free Diabetes Dietitian following a Health At Every Size (HAES) approach and intuitive eating principles to help you lower A1c and blood sugar. Yes, you can manage diabetes without focusing on weight loss or dieting. 

 I’ve been a dietitian for over a decade, primarily specializing in Type 2 Diabetes. I work with clients diagnosed with diabetes using a diet-free approach, helping guide clients through intuitive eating to lower blood sugars. 

What is a Registered Dietitian?

First, let’s talk about what it means to be a dietitian.  A Registered Dietitian is a food and nutrition expert who has undergone rigorous education.  This includes a bachelor’s or master’s degree in an accredited program, about one year of supervised practice, and completion of the national board exam.

What is a nutritionist? 

 A nutritionist is not a protected title so training varies and is not regulated. Dietitians work to help create a healthy relationship between food, body, and mind. This type of work includes promoting long-lasting lifestyle behaviors over the latest fad diet.

What is an anti-diet dietitian??

Being anti-diet means avoiding diet recommendations purely for weight loss and instead focusing on creating healthy habits such as eating more vegetables, increasing fiber, and balancing meals.

 Diet culture dictates that size can determine health. But body weight and BMI are poor indicators of health. There is a correlation between diabetes and weight- this does not equal causation!

How can you manage diabetes without dieting?

The anti-diet approach uses intuitive eating principles to help create a healthy relationship with food. It means no fad diets, calorie counting, or cleanses. Instead, the focus is on wellness over weight loss by utilizing health-promoting behaviors.  

Research shows that diets do not work long-term to keep the weight off and can cause more harm than good, as dieting can often be a predictor for disordered eating. Feeling like you “failed” when you “cheat” on your diet is poor for your mental health. Physically,  yo-yo dieting can be more harmful than being categorized as overweight or obese. 

What is Health At Every Size (HAES)??

Health At Every Size is a new perspective that does not conform to traditional healthcare. HAES challenges the link health solely to body weight and advocates for a strategy that prioritizes overall well-being over arbitrary size standards. 

Following a HAES approach means acknowledging that health is complex and based on many factors, including physical, mental, and emotional aspects, without the emphasis on weight as the ultimate indicator.

How do I work with clients with a diet free approach?

Instead of focusing on dieting and weight loss, I help my clients to create sustainable, health-promoting behaviors including creating a positive relationship with food and their body. 

It’s important to create wellness-promoting goals geared towards health, not weight loss. Sometimes when someone modifies behaviors weight loss may occur but should not be the primary goal.

Working with an anti-diet dietitian means you won’t be judged by your weight or expected to diet. Instead, we will work together to cultivate a personalized plan to achieve the results you want!