Have you considered meeting with a registered dietitian? Maybe the doctor has recommended that you see a dietitian for a health condition, you want help losing weight, or you have a family history of a diet-related disease. Maybe you just have some questions about nutrition! There’s really no wrong reason to see a dietitian because we all eat! Today, we’ll talk about what an appointment with one of our dietitians is like so you know what to expect.

Why Should I See a Dietitian?

Everyone can benefit from meeting with a dietitian. Many people wait until they have been diagnosed with diabetes, kidney disease, or something else diet-related before they book an appointment. Dietitians can help them change their diets to reduce medication usage and help improve the quality of their lives.

We see people with the following conditions and more:

• Diabetes
• Heart Disease
• Renal (Kidney) Disease
• Cancer
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Irritable Bowel Disease (Ulcerative colitis & Chron’s disease)
• Other Gastrointestinal Disorders
• Weight Loss & Weight Management
• Adolescent Nutrition
• Improving sports performance through nutrition
• General Nutrition & Wellness

It’s unfortunate that many wait until they have been diagnosed with a disease before reaching out to a dietitian. Some doctors estimate around 90% of chronic diseases could be prevented through proper diet! If you know that certain diseases run in your family, please contact us! We can help you develop the right diet to prevent many diseases and live a healthier life.

You might be wondering, “don’t genetics determine whether or not I develop diabetes (or any other disease)?” Well, turns out, our genetics are more like having a loaded gun, and our lifestyle factors are like pulling the trigger. You can make changes to your exercise and eating habits right now to set yourself up for better health down the road to either prevent or delay the onset of disease.

What to Expect At Your First Appointment

At AZ Dietitians, the first appointment is usually one hour long. We complete an assessment of your dieting history, susceptibility for nutrient deficiencies, labs, health history, and more to determine diet recommendations best for you. If we assess that you need certain labs or testing done to get to the root cause of your health problems, we will recommend or order those tests.

After our assessment, we share educational materials and discuss information with you to help you improve your diet. We answer any specific questions that you have, and we make sure to help you come up with goals to work on moving forward.

You might be wondering if we make meal plans for all of our clients. The answer is no. We do not often make meal plans because they usually fail. It is better for us to teach you how to make your own menu for the week so you can keep doing that moving forward. (Give a man a fish; he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish; he eats for a lifetime.) Trust us on this, you’d get sick of any meal plan that we could make for you anyway.

Despite not giving out meal plans, we offer many meal ideas and recipes if you need them. We’re happy to help set you up for success with your diet and lifestyle habits in any way that we can.

What to Expect at Follow-Up Appointments

We usually spend 30 minutes at each follow-up appointment. We check in with you on your goals by asking about any recent changes in weight, blood sugar, and other goals you have been working toward.

By the first follow-up appointment, our clients usually have questions. So, we spend time answering questions and sharing additional information about diet and exercise habits that will help. We are always stocked with plenty of handouts for different conditions and needs, and we’re happy to share those with you accordingly.

We generally have as many follow-up appointments with clients as necessary. Some have continued to see us regularly for years because they like having accountability.

How Much Does it Cost to Meet with a Dietitian?

Insurance typically covers anywhere from 6-26+ appointments per year with a dietitian. Most people do not have a co-pay with us, nor does their deductible usually apply. So, meeting with a dietitian won’t break the bank! In fact, many don’t have to pay anything.

We do have a cash-pay rate for those whose insurance does not provide benefits to meet with a dietitian. Call us to find out our rate!

Are you ready to book an appointment with us? Give us a call at 480-809-6513 today!