Clinical dietician

Steno Diabetes Center employs four clinical dieticians; they are attached to the multidisciplinary care team. Their job is to give advice and education about lifestyle changes: diet, physical exercise, alcohol and tobacco are just some of the areas covered. The dieticians work in the outpatient clinic, the type 2 clinic, the outpatient clinic for pregnancy care, the youth clinic, the diabetes unit in Rigshospitalet and on the outpatient ward.

Diet and diabetes
Diet is a central component in treating diabetes, and the clinical dieticians are there to explain about the nutritional and chemical composition of different foods and the importance of knowing how to combine these foods. Information is also given on alcohol. Both the composition and the amount of food are key factors in a diabetic diet; the dieticians help patients come to terms with this by providing menu ideas and tips.

The goals of dietary advice
To ensure the person with diabetes
• Maintains a blood glucose level as close as possible to normal
• Reaches and maintains an acceptable weight
• Can prevent or delay the development of complications

All dietary advice and support takes the individual’s lifestyle and eating habits into consideration.

Dietary advice may cover:
• Cholesterol count
• Fluctuating blood glucose levels 
• Weight loss
• Weight gain
• Renal function
• Digestion problems
• Food and physical exercise
• Smoking cessation

Education
The clinical dieticians hold courses in the type 2 clinic and on the outpatient ward; teaching is based on the participants’ needs.