Top-Rated Chronic Disease Management Specialists in Raleigh NC & Telehealth

We don’t put our patients on rigid, impossible-to-follow diets, because we’ve found that these can just increase stress and anxiety about food in the long term. Instead, we work with you to find a way of eating that’s satisfying and sustainable — because enjoying food is an important part of your overall well being.

Through holistic chronic disease management strategies and ongoing nutrition support, we’ve successfully helped our patients lower their blood sugar, reduce their risk of heart disease, improve their overall health, lessen uncomfortable symptoms, and manage their chronic conditions. No matter your diagnosis, we focus on gentle lifestyle changes and personalized care.

Our non-diet approach to nutrition is meant to improve overall quality of life, taking into account the mental, physical, social, and emotional impacts that food can have on overall well being. A healthy relationship with food can help manage or reduce the risk of depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems as well.

• Talk through and challenge any negative beliefs you have about food and your body

• Discuss the main pain points of living with and managing your chronic condition, and implement some flexible food and lifestyle strategies to combat them

• Talk about how your medications and other symptoms of your chronic condition may impact your appetite and food preferences

• Go over any exercises goals you set for the week

• Discuss any medical nutrition therapy recommendations that could be beneficial for you

• Brainstorm recipe and restaurant ideas

• Get suggestions for podcasts, books, articles, and other resources

Our experienced dietitian nutritionists are experts in nutrition for chronic disease management in Raleigh and across North Carolina. We are trained in a variety of conditions, and we take a non-diet approach to managing chronic health conditions through gentle nutrition combined with the proper medical treatment. We collaborate with primary care providers and other medical specialists to offer personalized, evidence-based care. We also partner with employers to offer custom diabetes prevention programs for employees, which are typically covered by insurance and free for the employer and employee. (Learn more about our workplace wellness services here.)

Parker McKinnon (she/her), MS, RD is a Charlotte-based registered dietitian who specializes in chronic disease management, healthy aging, disordered eating, and sports nutrition. She is passionate about helping clients make realistic, sustainable behavior changes that support their health goals while building a positive relationship with food. Parker takes an individualized, compassionate approach to nutrition counseling, meeting clients where they are and helping them create habits that fit their lives.

• Credentials: Registered Dietitian (RD), Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN) in North Carolina
• License number: L008750 (NC)
• Education: Texas A&M (Bachelor of Science in Nutrition), Texas Woman’s University (Master of Science in Nutrition)
• Specialty areas: Chronic disease management, diabetes, healthy aging, disordered eating, and sports nutrition
• Years in practice: 3

Sarah Booth (she/her) is a Raleigh dietitian nutritionist and certified diabetes educator who takes a Health at Every Size® (HAES)-aligned approach to wellness. She works with clients of all ages and from all backgrounds. She specializes in both eating disorders and diabetes management, and she loves showing clients that it’s possible to lower their A1C and keep their blood sugar levels more stable without strict diets. She also helps clients on GLP-1 medications navigate symptoms and meet their nutrition needs.

• Credentials: Registered Dietitian (RD), Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN) in North Carolina

• License number: L00663 (NC)

• Education: Appalachian State University (Bachelor of Science in Nutrition, Master of Science in Nutrition)

• Specialty areas: Adult eating disorders, teen eating disorders, diabetes, chronic disease management

• Years in practice: 5

Megan Shawver (she/her) is a Raleigh dietitian and former college athlete. She specializes in eating disorders, pediatrics, and intuitive eating, and she brings a mix of curiosity and expertise to her work with each client. She enjoys helping clients manage chronic diseases through small, sustainable changes to their eating, exercise, and sleep habits. 

• Credentials: Registered Dietitian (RD), Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN) in North Carolina
• License number: L008929
• Education: Franklin Pierce University (Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences), Meredith College (Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics)
• Specialty areas: Adult eating disorders, child and teen eating disorders, pediatric nutrition, intuitive eating
• Years in practice: 1

Molly Edwards (she/her) is a Raleigh dietitian who specializes in nutrition therapy for eating disorders, disordered eating, diabetes management, PCOS, hormonal and reproductive health, and co-occurring substance use disorders. She works with children, adolescents, and adults of all genders and gender identities, taking a client-centered, weight-neutral approach rooted in Intuitive Eating and Health at Every Size® (HAES) principles.

• Credentials: Registered Dietitian (RD), Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN) in North Carolina
• License number: L008244 (NC)
• Education: California State University Channel Islands (Bachelor of Arts in Health Communication), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Master of Public Health in Nutrition)
• Specialty areas: Adult eating disorders, child and teen eating disorders, chronic disease management, diabetes, women’s health
• Years in practice: 2

Kala Bernard (she/her) is a Raleigh dietitian nutritionist who has worked in various settings with all age groups, including gyms, inpatient hospitals, and the Durham County Health Department. Kala helps clients manage chronic conditions like diabetes and autoimmune diseases through gentle nutrition and sustainable habits. Kala’s interest in becoming a dietitian stemmed from her own experience with autoimmune diseases at a young age, and she’s passionate about supporting others with similar health challenges.

• Credentials: Registered Dietitian (RD), Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN) in North Carolina
• License number: L007633 (NC)
• Education: North Carolina State University (Bachelor of Science in Human Biology), University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Master of Public Health in Nutrition)
• Specialty areas: Child and teen eating disorders, pediatric nutrition, sports nutrition, and chronic disease management
• Years in practice: 3

Cherisse Chaney (she/her) is a Raleigh-Durham dietitian nutritionist who’s passionate about helping people improve their health without fixating on weight or setting unrealistic expectations for themselves. She works with clients who want to manage diabetes and other chronic diseases while still enjoying food and prioritizing a great quality of life. 

• Credentials: Registered Dietitian (RD), Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN) in North Carolina
• License number: L008932 (NC)
• Education: College of Charleston (Bachelor of Arts in English), Meredith College (Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics)
• Specialty areas: Teen eating disorders, adult eating disorders, chronic disease management, diabetes and GLP-1 support
• Years in practice: 1

Abby Caudle-Patton (she/her) is a registered dietitian nutritionist in North Carolina. In addition to eating disorder nutrition counseling, she offers chronic disease management services to teenagers and adults who struggle with health problems like diabetes, heart disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, celiac disease, and irritable bowel syndrome. Abby enjoys forming meaningful counseling relationships with her patients, and prefers to see people for regular check-ups over a longer period of time in order to create lasting changes that improve lifelong health.

• Credentials: Registered Dietitian (RD), Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN) in North Carolina

• License number: L006919 (NC)

• Education: North Carolina State University (Bachelor of Science in Nutrition), Meredith College (Master of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics)

• Specialty areas: Adult eating disorders, teen eating disorders, intuitive eating, chronic disease management

• Years in practice: 4

Serena Hutchinson (she/her) is a board-certified lactation consultant and registered dietitian nutritionist in Raleigh and Durham, NC, who sees clients in person and virtually. She specializes in eating disorders, women’s health, and chronic disease management, and she’s particularly skilled at helping people find their own motivations for making health behavior changes that actually stick. Serena is a great fit for clients with PCOS, gestational diabetes, and anyone struggling to manage their blood sugar, cholesterol levels, or blood pressure during pregnancy.

• Credentials: Registered Dietitian (RD), Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN) in North Carolina, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)

• License number: L007181 (NC)

• Education: Florida State University (Bachelor of Science Dietetics and Psychology), The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Master of Public Health in Nutrition), Carolina Global Breastfeeding Institute (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant)

• Specialty areas: Adult eating disorders, pregnancy and postpartum nutrition, gestational diabetes, PCOS

• Years in practice: 4

Deidra Sisk (she/her) is a registered dietitian nutritionist in North Carolina who offers virtual nutrition counseling. She has years of experience in offering nutrition therapy for chronic disease management. Deidra understands that being too rigid or controlling with food is a leading cause of eating disorders, and therefore she encourages her patients to take a more flexible approach to chronic disease treatment and management. Her nutrition counseling focuses on lifestyle changes and overall health, not fad diets and short-term fixes. She sees patients of all ages and has expertise in heart disease, diabetes, irritable bowel disease, and more.

• Credentials: Registered Dietitian (RD), Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN) in North Carolina

• License number: L004298 (NC)

• Education: Eastern Carolina University (Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Science, Master of Science in Nutrition Science),

• Specialty areas: Adult eating disorders, teen eating disorders, chronic disease management

• Years in practice: 10

Christine Byrne (she/her) is a Raleigh dietitian who sees patients virtually and in person. She specializes in eating disorders and intuitive eating, and also works with adults who are managing chronic conditions like diabetes, heart disease, and GERD. She believes that it’s possible to improve your overall health and quality of life without cutting out your favorite foods or tracking everything you eat.

• Credentials: Registered Dietitian (RD), Licensed Dietitian Nutritionist (LDN) in North Carolina

• License number: L006631 (NC)

• Education: Northwestern University (Bachelor of Arts in English), The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (Master of Public Health in Nutrition)

• Specialty areas: Adult eating disorders, intuitive eating

• Years in practice: 5

Frequently Asked Questions about Chronic Disease Management

What is the hardest chronic illness to live with?

As chronic disease specialists, we encourage our patients not to compare their own condition to what others may or may not be going through. It can be a pain to manage chronic disease no matter how symptoms present, and comparison only tends to make things worse.

The severity of your chronic condition can make it easier or harder to live with, and we encourage all of our patients to seek proper medical treatment with a primary care provider and an additional medical specialist if needed. Lifestyle changes can certainly impact your overall health and can be an important part of the treatment for chronic disease, but you can only do so much with food and exercise. Often, medications make a huge difference and are a fantastic compliment to nutrition counseling.

If you’re wondering whether or not your chronic diseases are “worse” than someone else’s, we encourage you to focus instead on things in your control. Our dietitians can help you feel more empowered in the management of your own condition, instead of comparing yourself to others.

How can I find a support group for chronic illness?

Managing chronic diseases can be extremely lonely, and many of our patients benefit from support groups. if you’re looking for a support group that puts you in community with others who have similar health challenges, the Center for Chronic Illness hosts several virtual groups year-round. You can also ask your primary care provider for local support group suggestions.

Working with a mental health therapist who offers psychological counseling for chronic diseases management can also be hugely helpful. In addition to offering support for things like depression and anxiety (which can co-exist with chronic diseases), counseling can help you work through the everyday stressors that chronic disease management often brings.

What qualifies a patient for CCM?

At Ruby Oak Nutrition, we are not in-network with Medicare. Therefore, we are not able to offer care under the CCM benefit. We are considered out-of-network Medicare providers.

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American adults who receive Medicare benefits qualify for the chronic condition management (CCM) Medicare benefit. The following requirements must be met by the patient and the primary care team:

• Two or more chronic conditions expected to last at least 12 months (or until death)
• Patient consent (verbal or signed)
• Personalized care plan in a certified EHR and a copy provided to patient
• 24/7 patient access to a member of the care team for urgent needs
• Enhanced non-face-to-face communication between patient and care team
• Management of care transitions
• At least 20 minutes of clinical staff time per calendar month spent on non-face-to-face CCM services directed by physician or other qualified health care professional
• CCM services provided by a physician or other qualified health care professional are reported using CPT code 99491 and require at least 30 minutes of personal time spent in care management activities

At Ruby Oak Nutrition, we are not in-network with Medicare. Therefore, we are not able to offer care under the CCM benefit. We are considered out-of-network Medicare providers.