How to Find a Good Dietitian

So, you want to see a dietitian for your diabetes, cholesterol, metabolic health, GI issues, or anything else. How do you find a good dietitian? There are a few ideas to consider and steps to take to find a good dietitian to help you meet your health goals.

• What are my needs? If you have a specific medical condition or a complex combination of conditions, you want to find someone who is an expert in your clinical needs.

• How do I find someone? Asking your healthcare provider is a good place to start to get a referral to a dietitian who your provider trusts. Many people will ask friends, family members, or post to online groups to find a dietitian that others have used. Personal recommendations can be very helpful.

• What if my physician does not know any dietitians? The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics has a dietitian search feature to help you find someone near you. You can also ask people you know for recommendations.

• How do I know if a dietitian I found in an online search is any good? Healthcare providers can't give you references of satisfied patients due to patient privacy laws. You could ask them which physicians refer to them to find out which healthcare providers trust them. You can also do some online sleuthing and see what is on their website to get some insight to their practice.

• How will I know if I'll like them? It is hard to know how well you'll work with your new dietitian until you are working with them. Some dietitians will offer short consultation calls, and you can use that time to get a feel for their personality. You can also schedule an intake, and decide after that appointment if you'd like to continue working with that provider.

So start your search for the dietitian to help you meet your health goals.