It’s impossible to scroll on social media without getting bombarded with nutrition and diet information. One second we’re told to load up on fruit, and the next we’re told that the sugar in fruit is bad and we should avoid it. Whose advice should we follow? Should we consult a dietitian, or a nutritionist, to find the answers we’re looking for? What is the difference between a dietitian vs. nutritionist, anyway? The answer may surprise you!
Are you living with diabetes or prediabetes and want support from a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist covered by insurance? Take our intake quiz to sign up for 1:1 nutrition counseling with our culturally humble, weight-inclusive Diabetes Dietitians. Our 12-week program helps you lower your A1c and improve your relationship with food. Most insurance patients pay $0 out of pocket! Start your journey to better health today.
Dietitian vs. Nutritionist – What’s The Difference?
What is a Nutritionist?
In the simplest terms, a nutritionist is someone who studies nutrition. Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, whether they took one course on nutrition (even if they didn’t pass!) or many. There are no regulations on this title so anyone can label themselves as such without any education, schooling, or credentials. Because of this, it’s difficult for individuals to know who to trust. If you are looking for a reliable professional, Registered Dietitians have the education, experience, and credentials to offer genuine guidance on food and nutrition.
What is a Registered Dietitian?
A Registered Dietitian (RD) or Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) is a qualified food and nutrition expert. The terms RD and RDN are used interchangeably, and both mean that the professional has completed all minimum requirements set by The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND). AND regulates all RDs and RDNs and sets those requirements which include:
- Obtaining a bachelor’s and master’s degree from a program with an accredited nutrition curriculum.
- Completing a supervised internship with a minimum of 1,500 hours including rotations in healthcare environments, medical facilities, food service organizations, and community agencies.
- Successfully passing the RD exam.
- Maintaining a minimum of 75 units of continuing education every five years throughout their career.
All Registered Dietitians are nutritionists but not vice versa
The main difference between a Registered Dietitian vs nutritionist is the extensive training and licensing requirements before becoming a legally registered dietitian. RD’s also have to abide by a code of conduct or risk losing their license. Nutritionists do not have any education, schooling, credentials, or professional requirements, making their advice and work less credible.
Where Does An RD Work?
RD’s can help treat and mitigate diseases in collaboration with other healthcare providers. But RD’s are not limited to working in hospital and medical settings. Registered Dietitians can work in a variety of environments including:
- Hospitals
- Nursing Homes
- Dialysis Center
- Research
- Private Practice
- School nutrition (Higher education and K-12)
- U.S. Military
- Government agencies (County, City, State)
- Consulting
- Communications
- Non-profit Organizations
- Nutrition Informatics
- Bariatrics
- Sports Nutrition
- Academics
Registered Dietitians can be their own boss in a private practice where they see clients in person or via telehealth. They can also work in research to collect data and provide recommendations to improve public health, the possibilities are endless!
How Can a Registered Dietitian Help You?
A Registered Dietitian is part of the healthcare team, they collaborate with doctors, nurses, social workers, and other healthcare providers. RD’s advise people on dietary and lifestyle changes to manage a specific disease and reach health goals.
RD’s can help treat:
- Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2)
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)
- Cancer
- Heart Disease
- High Cholesterol
- Hypertension
- Eating Disorders
- Kidney disease (Renal failure, Kidney Disease, Kidney Transplant)
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
- Crohn’s Disease
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Gout
- Fatty Liver Disease
Some RD’s specialize in a specific disease such as Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes, and they may obtain additional credentials such as a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES). An RD in diabetes care can help you by:
- Increasing your knowledge of foods and help you create balanced meals and snacks
- Helping you manage your blood sugar and lower A1c
- Improving your relationship with food and your body
- Introducing new coping mechanisms
- Reducing your risk of diabetes-related complications
- Teaching you how to count carbohydrates and use your insulin pump
- Supporting you through challenges, providing positive feedback, and more!
Can RD’s bill insurance?
Absolutely! RD’s can bill insurance thanks to the Affordable Care Act, which added nutrition counseling coverage. RD’s can also bill insurance for visits offered virtually such as zoom or other online platforms.
There are also super bills for situations where insurance does not cover costs due to out-of-network status or lack of coverage. In this scenario, you will have to pay out of pocket, but the superbill acts as a receipt for direct reimbursement from your insurance provider or your Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Account (FSA), or taxes. Find more information on how that works with Diabetes Digital here.
What would working with an RD look like?
If you are working with an RD in private practice such as Diabetes Digital, you can expect to complete pre-intake questions before your first visit to help us get to know you and provide the best support. Our sessions are offered virtually so you don’t have to drive through traffic or wait in a doctors office. During your first visit, we will review your eating patterns and blood sugar ranges, and work together on setting goals. We provide one hour for each session so you can receive more support and be more successful with your goals. Sessions with a Registered Dietitian are collaborative meetings where we review your challenges and provide knowledge and strategies to help you overcome obstacles. Don’t worry, we are not the diet police!
Dietitian vs Nutritionist: Final Thoughts
A Registered Dietitian and a nutritionist are vastly different. RD’s are not only credentialed, but they can help you create a healthier relationship with food and improve your quality of life, all backed by scientific evidence.
Anyone can call themselves a nutritionist, including RD’s. However, the process to become an RD involves a lot more work, including advanced degrees, long internship hours, and passing the ever-changing credentialing exam. Once they obtain their license, RD must complete 75 continuing education units every 5 years, making them lifelong learners and nutrition experts.
If you want to take charge of your health conditions and want more support around your diet and food choices, a Registered Dietitian will be your best ally!
Want to explore a balanced, intuitive approach to managing your chronic condition without restrictive dieting? We would love to work with you! Take your first step by filling out our intake form. This will help us understand your needs and individualize your plan and coverage.
Our Registered Dietitians have a combined experience of over 35 years! We specialize in creating personalized, culturally sensitive, and inclusive nutrition care plans. We are here to help you heal your relationship with food and enhance your health with strategies tailored just for you.
Ready to transform your approach to diabetes and prediabetes management?
Book a session here!
In the meantime, learn more about diabetes and prediabetes management by tuning into our podcast, available on iTunes and Spotify.
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