Weight-Inclusive Registered Dietitians for Diabetes
Conventional diabetes care is often heavily focused on weight loss and dietary restriction. This approach can be demoralizing, counterproductive, and downright harmful for a population at significantly elevated risk for disordered eating and eating disorders. Our approach is grounded in the evidence that:
- Disordered eating does not support successful diabetes management over time,
- Experiences with racism, sexism, poverty, trauma, and weight stigma play a major role in diabetes risk, and in someone’s access to appropriate and respectful support for managing it.
- Health-promoting behaviors like consistent nourishment, enjoyable movement, regular sleep, and coping with stress are far better at improving health and well-being for people with diabetes than intentional weight loss.
We work with clients to make meaningful, sustainable improvements to their nutrition and diabetes self-care routines, starting wherever they are with no shame or judgment, just care and support. We do not use weight loss as a metric of success.
Billie Karel, a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES), leads our diabetes specialty team and brings an exceptional depth of knowledge to both the clinical management of diabetes and the application of intuitive eating and weight-inclusive principles in diabetes care. All of our diabetes dietitians share Billie’s commitment to preventing disordered eating and eating disorders in people with diabetes, a population at significantly elevated risk.
Dietitians for Type 1 Diabetes and LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults)
Managing these types of diabetes usually requires navigating insulin and blood glucose variability on a daily basis. Our dietitians for type 1 diabetes and LADA help clients develop flexible, personalized approaches to eating and insulin strategies that support successful blood sugar management without triggering obsessive food rules or disordered eating and medication behaviors.
Dietitians for Type 2 Diabetes
A dietitian for Type 2 diabetes can provide compassionate, evidence-based nutritional guidance to help you manage blood sugar while still eating in a way that is nourishing and enjoyable, and supports long-term health. We work with each client individually to find an approach that aligns with their preferences, culture, and lifestyle.
Dietitians for Gestational Diabetes
A gestational diabetes diagnosis during pregnancy can feel frightening and overwhelming. Our dietitians for gestational diabetes provide compassionate, evidence-based nutritional guidance to help you manage blood sugar throughout your pregnancy while still eating in a way that is nourishing, enjoyable, and appropriate for the demands of pregnancy and fetal development.
Dietitians for Prediabetes
If you have been told your blood sugar is elevated or that you are at risk for Type 2 diabetes, early nutrition support can make a meaningful difference. Our dietitians will help you understand what the numbers mean and how thoughtful, balanced nutrition can support long-term metabolic health.
People with Diabetes and Dietitians: A Partnership That Goes Beyond a Meal Plan
Working with a dietitian for diabetes is not just about counting carbs or learning which foods are “good” or “bad” for blood sugar. Our diabetes specialty dietitians understand that people with diabetes are not robots eating food and managing blood sugar in a vacuum: they are living, breathing human beings who are always changing, always needing to adapt to everything life throws at them. And so, we take a whole-person approach to nutrition and diabetes management that is flexible and adaptable so it can continue to work with your real life! We are always happy to collaborate with your endocrinologist, primary care physician, therapist and other providers to ensure your nutrition care is integrated and consistent with your broader health goals.
In-Person & Telehealth Diabetes Nutrition Counseling
Our diabetes nutrition services are available in person across the Triangle Area in NC and via telehealth throughout North Carolina and Oregon. We can also work with individuals in many other states, depending on each state’s dietetic licensure laws. Contact us to schedule an appointment with a registered dietitian for diabetes today.
