Picture this: You’re at the doctor’s office, and your physician says you need to make a change to your diet. You make the conscious decision, right then and there, to change your eating habits — but where do you begin?
Did you know there’s an easy and local way to develop healthier eating habits, and your health insurance plan might even cover the cost? Maury Regional Health (MRH) has a team of registered dietitians on standby to help you get off on the right foot.
“A healthy diet is the key to healthy living and can make a huge difference in both your physical and mental wellbeing,” said Keri Howell, chief clinical dietitian at MRH. “Our team can help you develop some healthy nutritional habits that will be most effective for you.”
With a physician’s order, patients can make an appointment to meet one-on-one with a registered dietitian for a nutrition counseling session, which typically lasts about 30 minutes to an hour. The sessions can either be a one-time meeting or occur on a regular basis, depending on your physician’s recommendation.
The dietitian works alongside you and your physician to set goals based on your unique needs as part of your overall plan of care. They’ll assess your current dietary state and recommend modifications so you can safely and effectively meet your goals.
“We can develop a plan that best works for you and also tastes amazing,” Howell said. “Just because you’re changing your diet doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice on taste. If you don’t like the foods you’re eating, there’s a better chance you won’t stick with your new eating habits. We want you to enjoy what you’re eating while at the same time meeting your nutritional needs.”
Those who may benefit from one-on-one nutrition counseling include individuals with conditions such as:
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Kidney disease
- Malnutrition
- Obesity
- Difficulty gaining, losing or maintaining weight
Talk with your physician about nutrition counseling and if you could benefit. Appointments may be made with a physician’s order by calling 931.381.1111, ext. 4044.
Some insurance plans, such as Medicare Part B, cover medical nutrition therapy for certain health conditions, including diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Patients are encouraged to check with their specific insurance plan for details of coverage.
For additional information about nutrition counseling, visit MauryRegional.com/NutritionCounseling.
In addition to nutrition counseling, Maury Regional Health also offers self-management classes and support groups for those with diabetes. The self-management classes are recognized by the American Diabetes Association and taught by a certified diabetes educators and registered dietitians.
Learn more about the classes and support groups at MauryRegional.com/Diabetes.