Under the present conditions, I would
suggest reconsidering any appointment with a registered dietitian
(with RD in the title). While I have some friends that are RDs, they
know that currently, I still want them for friends, but do not
bring up the subject of nutrition when we are together. One of my
cousins who is a nutritionist, not a RD,and a member of another
organization, does take particular pleasure in confronting me about
the situation within the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) and
how they will lose in the long run. I do think she is doing this to
see how I react, but presently I just let her yammering go in one ear
and out the other.
Yes, when we do get to the facts and
what is in the news and other publications, we do have a spirited
discussion. She has met some of our informal group, and she
understands what we are doing. She did help one of the group (Allen)
get a more balanced meal plan. Even he was surprised about how far
out of balance he had been. She asked him to get a scale that he
would use and for a week weigh his food and record what he was
eating. Since he already had a scale that would work, he asked what
we thought and we agreed that this could be an immense help for him.
The following week, she took the
information, showed where he was weak nutritionally, and made
suggestions to create meals that are more balanced or more balanced
for the day. Not only did she give him suggestions, but showed him
what the different suggestions could do for him per meal, but as well
on a daily basis. He was in awe with the results and commented that
he understood why the doctor had run so many tests. Then they both
sat and went over the sheet she had prepared. A few adjustments were
made and he said he was going to have to go to the grocery store. He
also asked how to prepare some of the new vegetables that he
generally did not eat. She actually listed different ways to cook
some of foods and how to prepare some of them for eating raw. She
then surprised even me and gave him her phone number to call when he
had questions.
Yes, all of us present made some
suggestions, but she kidded us that everyone likes a woman's touch –
ooohhhh – ouch. We started kidding Allen about maybe not needing
his supplements that the doctor had him taking. She stopped us
immediately and asked which supplements. I said we needed to start
at the beginning and she agreed. Allen said he had been on Metformin for
many years and one day had been asked by us if he was taking a
vitamin B12 supplement or had been tested for the deficiency. He
explained that his doctor would not do the test and Tim and I had
gotten him to a doctor that I see where they did the tests and
several others. Allen explained that he had a vitamin D shot and
vitamin B12 shot that day. He explained what the progression had
been to the current day.
Allen gave her the supplements he was
taking per the doctor’s instructions and the dosage of each. She
looked each over and said he had better ignore her suggestions for
nutrition change until Allen and she had a chance to talk to his
doctor. Then she asked how many of each supplement he had left and
Allen stated that on some of them were just about out and he didn't
know on a couple. She said that if possible, he should call the
doctor's office and get an appointment as soon as possible. Allen
called and received an appointment for the following Tuesday, and
told the receptionist the reason. About half an hour later, the
Doctor called and wanted to review the reason. Allen put the
nutritionist on the phone and she explained the reason and what was
transpiring. He asked if they could be in his office yet that
afternoon. They decided they could, and they were off.
The following day, several more of us
got together with the nutritionist and Allen was all smiles. My
cousin said that was one of the best meetings with a doctor she had
ever been involved in. She had grabbed a couple of books from her
car before they had left and the doctor had the same books out when
they were in his office. She said she had done some calculations on
the way and that was what the doctor had wanted to see. Allen said
the doctor was impressed that she had followed Allen's wishes and
adapted a meal plan for each meal in the day and if one meal was
short, the next meal compensated so that the day was balanced. Since
Allen was still adjusting to insulin, the doctor was very happy that
she had kept the number of carbohydrates down while still balancing
the nutrition.
The doctor did agree with my cousin on
holding some of the vegetables until Allen had exhausted the
supplements and for them to go ahead if Allen was happy with what she
had proposed. The doctor did want Allen to continue the vitamin D
and vitamin B12 until the second appointment from now. Allen said
his next appointment was in August and that would make the second in
November and the doctor said he would order the tests for then and
see where his levels were and make any adjustments then. The doctor,
according to Allen, had said if he could work with the nutritionist,
he should be good with the food supplying sufficient nutrients. The
doctor said the tests would either confirm this or lead to more tests
to determine if Allen's body was not making use of them in which case
there would be a medical mystery to be solved.
Allen said the doctor had quizzed my
cousin about her education and affiliation before going over the
sheets that she had prepared. Allen was a little surprised that he
had checked some of her calculations, but realized that the doctor
had relaxed when he saw that his calculations agreed with hers. The
doctor asked if she would be pushing the number of carbohydrates up
later, and Allen said that he had been told only if that was his
desire. My cousin said she told the doctor that she makes
suggestions, but works at the ratio the patient desires and said that
it would probably be five or six months in making, the transition to
the ratio Allen wanted. She said that this would minimize the level
of endotoxins.
Brenda, who did make this gathering,
spoke up and said this sounded like what her daughter would say.
Quick comparison of backgrounds revealed the same university, but
members of different organizations. Neither is a member of AND and
happy where they are members.
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