Maintaining quality health is an on-going commitment that requires guidance from your doctor and an extended team of healthcare professionals.  One of those extended healthcare professionals is a Registered Dietitian.  Registered Dietitians encourage people to evaluate routines involving eating and exercising. Many patients often are referred by their healthcare provider to go to medical nutrition therapy appointments with a Registered Dietitian to improve wellness and manage health conditions. If you’re curious about how nutrition planning varies from diets, here are four questions answered by PrimaryPlus’ team of Registered Dietitians. 

4 Questions Regarding Medical Nutrition Therapy Answered

1. What is Medical Nutrition Therapy?

Medical nutrition therapy, or MNT, is the nutritional diagnostic, therapy, and counseling services provided by a Registered Dietitian for the purpose of disease management.  MNT involves individualized nutrition assessment and nutrition counseling to help with goal setting, creating action plans, and helping with overall self care.

2. Who Benefits From This Type of Care?

MNT can benefit a variety of patients.  Our dietitians at PrimaryPlus see a lot of patients who suffer from diabetes, altered labs such as cholesterol, heart disease risk or previous heart issues, high blood pressure, pre-diabetes, weight related concerns including eating disorder treatment. 

3. Is Medical Nutrition Therapy Purely a Weightloss Plan?

While many patients struggling to maintain a healthy weight may lose weight when adhering to their nutrition therapy plan, this isn’t necessarily the end goal. PrimaryPlus’ team of Registered Dietitians will work with you on goals that are centered around your needs and lifestyle. The main objective could be lowering blood glucose levels or blood pressure, managing cholesterol, or reducing stomach irritation and digestive discomfort as opposed to strictly dropping pounds. 

4. Who Should You Visit for Nutrition Therapy?

Your primary care physician can discuss Medical Nutrition Therapy with you and will make a referral to PrimaryPlus’ dietitian team.  Your visit with the dietitian will take an in-depth dive into your lifestyle and specifically the foods that you are using to nourish your body.   

 

PrimaryPlus’ Registered Dietitians are excited to help educate patients on ways to have a healthy relationship with food.  They provide Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) at most PrimaryPlus locations. They believe in helping you assess your diet--teaching you to make REALISTIC changes.  These recommendations will be tailored just for you based on a variety of factors while also taking into account your current eating habits. 

Our Medical Nutrition Services are offered for all ages and all levels of health! Plus, it is affordable! Services include...

• Diabetes Self-Management Education (Nutrition, Exercise, Goal Setting)
• Chronic Disease Management through Nutrition
• Nutrition Related Blood Work Review (Cholesterol, Triglycerides, etc.)
• Eating Disorders
• Weight Management
• Prenatal & Postnatal Nutrition Counseling
• Pediatric Nutrition
• Label Reading
• Family Meal Planning
• PLUS More...

Meet our Registered Dietitians:

Kacy Massie, MS, RD, LD, CDE 
Kacy L. Massie, Registered Dietitian, has been with PrimaryPlus since 2009. Kacy believes that small changes can turn into huge results! Kacy’s approach is about teaching her clients how to incorporate all their favorite foods into a healthy plan. Kacy received her B.S. in Dietetics from Eastern Kentucky University and her M.S. in Community Nutrition from Eastern Kentucky University. She is a Registered Dietitian through the Commission for Dietetic Registration and licensed in both Kentucky and Ohio. In the spring of 2016, Kacy added to her resume becoming a Certified Diabetes Educator helping to better serve those living with diabetes which plagues our region.  Kacy enjoys boating, camping, and cooking!

Stacy Michael, MS, RD, LD
Stacy C. Michael, Registered Dietitian, joined PrimaryPlus in 2012 and believes in the message that “all foods fit.” She teaches her clients that knowledge and moderation are the keys to success, not crazy diets. Stacy received her B.S. in Dietetics from Eastern Kentucky University and her M.S. in Community Nutrition from Eastern Kentucky University. She is a Registered Dietitian through the Commission for Dietetic Registration and licensed in both Kentucky and Ohio. Stacy is enjoys spending time with her family.

Visit primaryplus.net to contact for a list of office locations nearest you!  PrimaryPlus is always welcoming new patients!