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Dietetic therapy focuses on the use of diet and nutrition in order to treat and manage health conditions.

This therapy is handled by dietitians, who work with clients to tailor a diet and nutrition plan that addresses their medical conditions and associated individual needs. The key aim of dietetic therapy is to improve health outcomes for clients and ideally alleviate the symptoms of their specific conditions.

With the right support and planning, dietetic therapy can be transformative for clients and notably reduce the likelihood of future health complications related to diet.

Individuals who live with a disability that impacts their diet and nutritional needs may qualify for dietetic therapy through a registered NDIS provider such as Conscious Healthcare SA.

As dietitians specialise in helping people address health conditions through diet, nutrition and exercise, they’re highly experienced in assisting clients achieve and maintain specific weight goals.

Regardless of whether you need to lose or gain weight or improve your nutrient intake, our dietitians can help you achieve these specific goals. Once you’ve accomplished those goals, they’ll then implement appropriate strategies and revised diets to ensure you’re appropriately managing your weight and/or nutrient intake.

Dietitians at Conscious Healthcare SA can help manage the nutrition and diets of individuals whose ability to manage their own diets is impacted by, or results from, the following disabilities or conditions:

• Intellectual, neurological, physical, or psychosocial disability
• Autism or neurodivergent condition
• Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
• Cerebral palsy
• Down syndrome
• Multiple sclerosis
• Global development delay
• Depression

Yes, a dietitian can help people with diabetes manage their condition through specific diet and exercise plans. In order to qualify for NDIS support regarding diabetes management, please note that support will only be provided if you can prove your ability to manage your diabetes is impacted by a related disability. For example, your diabetes is caused or exacerbated by a physical or intellectual disability.

Yes, it can. If a disability or condition has contributed to deteriorating heart health, a dietician can formulate a health plan that’s focused on bringing more heart-healthy foods into regular rotation. They may also suggest simple, approachable exercises that are supportive of better heart health.

While nutritionists and dietitians specialise in similar fields, the key difference lies in the qualifications required for both professions. 

An important factor is that the field of nutrition practice is not regulated by the Australian government. This means that while people can be certified as nutritionists by different organisations, there is no legal protection over the term. As a result, anyone can potentially label themselves a nutritionist even without formal training or education.

On the other hand, dietitians and the broader dietetic profession are regulated by the government. Becoming a dietitian requires the successful completion of an accredited dietetics degree from an Australian university. This means you can rest assured that any dietitian you see is fully accredited and qualified to help you in your nutrition and diet journey.

The frequency with which you visit a dietitian will depend on your nutritional and dietary needs and how much intervention or planning is required to achieve them. 

If your dietary requirements are relatively straightforward and you’re able to stick to the planned diet and exercise routines, you may only need to do the occasional follow-up. On the other hand, if you have several nutritional and dietary issues that need to be addressed over time, more frequent appointments with a dietitian may be necessary until you hit specific milestones.

The first session with a Conscious Healthcare dietitian will be focused on assessing your nutritional and dietary needs and how your disability or condition plays a role. They’ll discuss the options available to you and gauge what your personal objectives are - losing weight, improving the balance between diet and exercise, increasing the intake of specific nutrient-rich foods that you struggle with, etc.

With all the relevant information on hand and accounting for your specific disability, they’ll then map out an appropriate set of goals and a corresponding plan to get you started on your diet journey. They’ll provide you with tools and guidance to help you achieve your goals.

There can be many causes of nutritional issues in children. These can be caused by physical, intellectual, or emotional factors. For example, a child with a physical disability and limited movement could have unique nutritional needs based on their inability to burn calories in the same way as other children.

Neurodevelopmental factors can also impact a child’s nutrition. For example, autistic children may be sensitive to certain textures or flavours. This means they avoid specific foods with nutritional profiles because the texture or flavour is genuinely unpleasant and upsetting to them.

Another factor that can impact a child’s nutrition is a sensory-related issue that impacts interoception. Interoception is an internal sensory system that drives a person’s awareness of their physical and emotional states. If a child’s interoception is impacted, they may not recognise when they’re hungry even if their stomach is grumbling and aching. Dietitians can help these children by setting schedules for when to eat so that they don’t risk under-eating, which impacts their broader nutrition.

If you’re in need of a dietitian in Adelaide and qualify for the NDIS, Conscious Healthcare SA’s dietitians can help. They offer their services in-clinic, via telehealth, and in-home.

Our two clinics are located in the north and south of Adelaide - Mawson Lakes and Seacliff, respectively. For in-home therapy, our dietitians can travel to visit clients between Gawler, Aldinga, and Mt Barker. We also provide our dietetic therapy services Australia-wide via telehealth.

To get started with Conscious Healthcare SA, you can Refer & Book, call us on (08) 8166 4700, or email enquiries@chcsa.com.au today.