Expert Nutrition Guidance for Diabetes Management and GLP-1s
Our dietitians help you manage diabetes, lower your A1C, and keep your blood sugar more stable without strict dieting. If you’re on a GLP-1 medication, we can help you manage food-related symptoms, get the nutrients you need, and make informed decisions about these medications. We accept Aetna, BCBS, Cigna, and Medcost insurance, and many plans cover nutrition counseling at no cost!
Why is nutrition important for diabetes management?
The way you eat impacts your blood sugar, which is a key aspect of diabetes management. But that doesn’t mean you need to go on a super drastic, miserable-sounding, low-carb diet. We’ve heard from so many clients that they’ve tried countless “diabetes diets,” only to fail after a few months and feel discouraged about their health.
At Ruby Oak Nutrition, we take a different approach. Our dietitians help you figure out a way of eating for diabetes that’s enjoyable, realistic, and sustainable for you. Our guidance is evidence-based without being overly restrictive. Instead of handing you a list of foods to eat and foods to avoid — insert eye roll here, because we KNOW you’ve seen one of these before — we work with you to figure out how different foods, food combinations, activities, and other circumstances impact your blood sugar. Nutrition counseling sessions are a judgement-free zone, and we never push food rules or diet advice. Instead, we use our nutrition and diabetes expertise to gently guide you while you figure out a way of eating for blood sugar management that’s realistic, sustainable, and enjoyable for you.
What are the benefits of nutrition counseling for diabetes management?
We use tools like blood sugar monitoring strategies, meal and snack planning, medical nutrition therapy, and education on how food can work with various medications to help you find a way of eating that supports your health, fits into your life, and still allows you to enjoy food.
Through working with us, our clients have been able to:
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Improve blood sugar management without rigid food rules
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Create meal plans that are balanced, satisfying, and realistic
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Understand how GLP-1 medications impact appetite and digestion
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Reduce stress and confusion around carbs, sugar, and portion sizes
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Feel more confident making choices at restaurants and social events
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Manage side effects like nausea or low appetite from GLP-1s
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Stop relying on unsustainable diets for diabetes management
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Build long-term habits that actually last
And so much more!
How can a dietitian help me if I’m on a GLP-1?
GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro can change the way you experience hunger and fullness, which can make eating feel confusing or even stressful. At Ruby Oak Nutrition, we take a non-diet approach to these diabetes medications. We help you manage symptoms, nourish your body, and build lasting habits without promoting restrictive dieting or extreme weight loss. Our goal is to help you feel steady, confident, and supported in your food choices.
Through working with us, our clients have been able to:
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Adjust to changing appetite cues without skipping important nutrients
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Find foods that feel good on a sensitive stomach
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Create realistic meal and snack routines, even with reduced appetite
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Find ways to include their favorite foods comfortably
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Stay nourished and energized throughout the day
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Learn how to stabilize their blood sugar
- Minimize uncomfortable digestive symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
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Feel more at ease eating in social settings
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Get support from dietitians who focus on health, not weight
How does nutrition counseling for diabetes management work?
Managing diabetes can feel overwhelming, and many patients don’t know where to begin. Our dietitians provide medical nutrition therapy (MNT) for diabetes that’s structured but customizable to each patient’s unique needs, goals, and preferences.
We recommend that patients work with a dietitian for at least 12 appointments. At each appointment, the patient will learn more about a specific aspect of diabetes management. There will also be time during appointments for goal setting, progress check-ins, meal planning, and troubleshooting challenges.
Nutrition Counseling for Diabetes Session Guide
Session 1: Introduction and initial assessment
During this session, you and your dietitian will get to know each other and discuss your diagnosis, relationship with food, current dietary intake, understanding of nutrition, and goals for nutrition counseling.
Session 2: Diabetes education
Based on your health literacy and prior knowledge, your dietitian will provide education on diabetes, including how the body processes carbohydrates and insulin, as well as tailored nutrition and lifestyle recommendations that support blood sugar management.
Session 3: Building balanced meals
You and your dietitian will review balanced meal and snack ideas using frameworks such as the Peaceful Plate or the American Diabetes Association Plate Method. You’ll also discuss how your produce boxes can support balanced meal planning.
Session 4: Eating consistently on a budget
You’ll discuss any challenges that make it difficult to meet your nutrition and health goals and revisit the plate framework from previous sessions to identify what feels realistic and manageable. Your dietitian will help you strategize meal planning and grocery shopping within a budget that feels comfortable for you, including ways to utilize your produce boxes.
Session 5: Carbohydrate metabolism
Your dietitian will review carbohydrate nutrition education and invite conversation about your past experiences and beliefs around carbohydrate-rich foods, including messaging from healthcare providers, diet trends, family, or friends. Together, you’ll work to debunk common carbohydrate myths.
Session 6: Fiber & blood sugar
You’ll learn about the role fiber plays in blood sugar management, as well as additional benefits such as supporting digestion and heart health. Your dietitian may help you identify fiber-rich foods in your produce boxes and discuss meal combinations that include these foods.
Session 7: Protein & fat metabolism
Your dietitian will review the role protein and fat play in satiety and blood sugar management. Together, you’ll identify protein and fat sources you enjoy and discuss ways to combine them with foods from your produce boxes.
Session 8: Cooking and meal prep
You and your dietitian will explore your comfort level in the kitchen and discuss strategies for meal preparation and food use throughout the week that feel realistic, supportive, and sustainable for your goals.
Session 9: Eating out and real life
You’ll discuss how to approach eating out and social situations with greater flexibility and confidence. Your dietitian will provide education on the importance of flexibility and balance in supporting long-term health.
Session 10: Movement
Your dietitian will provide education on movement recommendations and explore your current and past relationship with exercise. If desired, you may collaborate on identifying enjoyable forms of movement and setting supportive, realistic goals.
Session 11: Stress & sleep
You’ll learn about the impact stress and sleep can have on blood sugar management and discuss coping strategies that may help. If these areas feel challenging, your dietitian can help you identify small, sustainable habits to experiment with.
Session 12 and beyond: Sustainability and moving forward
Toward the end of counseling, you and your dietitian will reflect on what you’ve learned and identify strategies that feel sustainable moving forward. Your dietitian can also help you build supportive routines and structures to continue working toward your goals. Some people are ready to end nutrition counseling after 12 sessions, while others find it helpful to continue checking in regularly or occasionally with your dietitian.
There are several other topics we can cover in our diabetes nutrition counseling
- Cultural foods and preferences
- Intuitive Eating and Diabetes
- Preventing food waste
- Navigating the grocery store
- How to “fill in the gaps” around provided produce
- Letting go of food rules
- Medications and nutrition
- Feeding a family
- Weight stigma in healthcare
- How to properly season your food
Does my insurance cover nutrition counseling?
We’re in network with most major insurance plans. Most people with these insurance plans are able to work with us at little or no cost.
Head to our Insurance and FAQ page to see our current self-pay rates and learn more about insurance coverage.
How does nutrition counseling work?
To learn more about the process, head to our Insurance and FAQ page.
How to work with us for diabetes nutrition counseling
Virtual nutrition counseling
Available in North Carolina and across several states in the US, via a HIPAA-compliant video platform. Head to our FAQ page for a full list of the states that we serve.
In-person nutrition counseling in Raleigh, North Carolina
Appointments are available at our Raleigh, North Carolina office:
Downtown Raleigh Office: 219 S. East Street, Raleigh, NC, 27601