Oral Glucose Tolerance Tests, Hemoglobin A1C Values and Carbohydrate Counting!

This past week I said goodbye to school cafeterias and spent my first week of clinical rotations following a dietitian specializing in outpatient diabetes education and counseling.  I expected to learn a lot about diabetes during this rotation, but I was surprised at how much I learned about nutrition counseling.  I have had an interest in nutrition counseling ever since I took the nutrition education and counseling course in undergrad.  Every patient that I observed in a counseling session this past week came in with a different level of acceptance and understanding of their diabetes diagnosis.  I was fascinated by how the dietitian adjusted her counseling style and the way she delivered and presented information according to the individual needs of each client.  Most people would start the session very uneasy about changing their diets because they assumed the dietitian was going to tell them they could never eat a dessert, pasta or pizza ever again.  I was amazed to see the difference that a two-hour counseling session could make in turning their attitude about their diabetes and meal plan around.  Almost everyone left with a positive attitude about carbohydrate counting, even the people who at the beginning of the session said that they had no interest in counting their grams of carbohydrates! 

I also had the opportunity to do my own counseling session with a friend of mine.  We completed a 24 hour food recall, which I then completed a diet analysis on using the exchange system and the excel sheet that the dietitian uses in her own counseling sessions.  From the diet analysis I had to fill out a meal plan with carbohydrate, fat and protein allowances for each meal and snack throughout the day. 

Next week I am back in the schools and will be starting my five-week cafeteria management rotation.  I have already met the manager and staff at the elementary school where I will be completing this rotation and am really looking forward to working with all of them.  Bring on the early mornings and fast paced atmosphere of a school cafeteria!  


By: Amanda Bot