Healthy Eating Habits for Life Case Studies
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Rhianna's Results
Rhianna is a 21 year old client who was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in May 2007. Last September she contacted FNA to help change her diet and lose weight. Since then she has lost nearly ten kilos and considerably reduced her body fat. Rhianna has also been able to reduce and even stop taking some of her medication.
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Summary of results:
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September 2008 |
June 2009 |
Difference |
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Weight |
84.2kg |
75.7kg |
8.5kg |
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Body fat |
28.4% |
25.5% |
2.9% |
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BMI |
28 |
25 |
Overweight to healthy |
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Medication |
High doses of 3 diabetic medications |
Ceased 1 medication and halved dose of another |
Significantly reduced |
What motivated you to contact FNA?
“I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes two years ago and from day one, I struggled to cope with my condition. I was placed on high doses of insulin to control my high sugar levels and this contributed to my vast weight gain. Then, last September with my diabetes, weight and lifestyle out of control I decided it was time to take charge. I knew if I continued with the current lifestyle that my diabetes would start to seriously affect me. I made a decision to help myself not just in the present but also for my future. I knew it would be a long process with many tough choices, not just diet choices but other factors such as pessimistic people and negative environments that were in my life. I needed to learn how to not just identify these harmful factors but also to isolate and cope with them. It all seemed overwhelming at first and I wasn’t sure where to start, so I contacted my GP, who referred me to FNA.”
What were your perceptions about seeing a dietitian before you attended? Did these change as a result of your experience at FNA?
“When I was first diagnosed with diabetes I visited a dietitian, so I had some idea of what they did. But I was amazed at how different FNA handled my situation. In my experience, I thought a dietitian would only help with a meal plan and encourage me to ‘stick with it’. My dietitian at FNA worked with me to organise a daily routine including an exercise regime initially of daily walks for 60 minutes, which was achievable for me with my rotating shift work. From my first visit, the support and encouragement that I have received has been enormous, not just from my dietitian, but from the whole team at FNA.”
What were your key goals in attending?
“I approached FNA with two fundamental goals in mind, to lose weight and to gain blood glucose control. I soon realized that these two goals were closely linked - if I lost weight through good diet and exercise I would therefore gain control over my blood glucose levels and vice versa. I not only wanted to lose weight but get fit. My dietitian encouraged me to begin daily walks for 60 minutes, which has developed further into a more progressive fitness regime.”
Had you tried any other approaches in the past and how did FNA’s approach differ for you/support you?
“When I was first diagnosed I visited a dietitian as it is mandatory. I found this service not at the standard of FNA. At FNA I have continuous support even outside of my appointment time. Implementing the meal plan into to my daily routine without disruption was made easy as my dietitian was understanding and experienced which enabled her to configure a meal plan around my rotating shift work.”
What do you particularly like about FNA’s services?
“I found the service at FNA very accommodating and rewarding. They managed to tailor everything around my schedule and were flexible with their appointments which made their service very simple and straight forward to utilize. The support continued outside the consultation with all staff being encouraging and helpful. At FNA they were ready to provide me with the latest information, and were ready to tackle any issues or problems that arose.”
How did you find the meal plan provided?
“As one of the major factors of my job is rotating shift work, I found my dietitian listened to my requirements and worked with me to individually tailor a meal plan to suit both night and day shift. As I spend the majority of my time at work, a lot of my meals are catered for at the work cafeteria. My dietitian inquired about the food provided at the work cafeteria and assisted me in choosing meals or to construct my own meals that were appropriate for my dietary plan. The meal plan also gave specific times when I should eat my meals and how long to leave between each meal. Also a variety of quick, easy and healthy snacks was provided within in the meal plan at a set time to enjoy.”
What were the key things you learnt that had an impact on you achieving your results?
“Throughout my visits to FNA my dietitian has assisted me with education on glycemic index, portion control and label reading. Another important key is learning to find the balance between good and bad foods, by not using food as a treat, but finding other ways to indulge. Also introducing an active lifestyle, initially incorporating at least a daily walk of 60 minutes, this has now developed into a daily gym session, which demonstrated to me the importance of exercise and how it can be beneficial and accelerate my weight loss.”
Is there anything else you would like to say about your experience with the team at FNA?
“Through education, the support and guidance of my dietitian and the FNA team and my own self-motivation I have been able to achieve and maintain a healthier lifestyle. I believe the skills that I have learnt are invaluable and will stay with me and continue to help me make healthier choices into the future.”
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