If you’re struggling with weight, allergies, or appetite, booking an appointment with a dietitian in Singapore is the best thing you can do to counter the problem. If it is your first visit, you may feel some bits of nervousness when you walk into the facility.

If you wish to remain calm throughout the session, it would be better to know what to expect. In today’s guide we breakdown what you should expect on your first appointment with a registered dietitian in Singapore. Read on.

  • The Formalities

This will come naturally. You’ll be welcomed into the facility and requested to complete your registration form.

  • The Assessments

You will then be invited to an assessment room. Here, the RGN will inquire about your medical history to capture all the relevant pieces of information attached to the symptoms you had noticed before and your current issue.

The doctor will;

  • Ask about your latest blood test, and inquire if there were any issues when reviewing the results.
  • Inquire about your family history; if there have been any members of your family who have had complications like diabetes, endometriosis, Coeliac disease, and thyroid complications, among others.
  • Discuss with you about your bowel motions and appetite.
  • Inquire about who does the shopping and cooking at home.
  • Discuss your stress and energy levels.
  • Check if you are on any medications or using any supplements.
  • If you’re a woman, the doctor may also inquire about the regularity of your periods, the cycle, duration, and if you’ve had any complications.
  • Ask about the main problem that you’re currently dealing with, your sleeping patterns, and many more.

It would help if you answered all the questions accurately since the doctor will use these pieces of data to create a diet plan for you. The doctor may also recommend a few measurements though this is optional in most cases. If any measurements are involved, the doctor may recommend them to check for your activity and exercise habits. The measurements can also help determine any significant changes in important health aspects like bone mass, muscle mass, and BMI.

  • Setting Your Nutritional Goals on the Next Follow-up Visit

Nutritional goals vary significantly between individuals. These goals will be determined based on a problem you’re trying to address or what you’re trying to achieve.

For instance, your goal may be to reduce your body fat or weight to solve mobility issues or to increase your energy rating so you can keep up with activities you previously couldn’t keep up with. For the best experience, your dietitian will help you set realistic and achievable goals that won’t wear you down in the long run.

  • Diet Planning and Nutritional Recommendations

Planning your diet will be the hallmark of the changes you want in your diet. Your RGN will have to put many factors into consideration to help you solve a problem or achieve your set goals.

They’ll work with your assessment results and the set goals to craft an ideal diet for you. Ideally, you should expect a few more questions at this stage.

A good RGN will walk you through the reasons for making different diet recommendations and, most specifically, why they believe the recommendations are the perfect fits for you. It doesn’t end there still. The dietitian will review your lifestyle and daily activities to determine if any barriers could be a stumbling block to achieving your goals and recommend realistic ways of overcoming them.

How do I prepare for a Dietitian Appointment?

Preparing for your appointment shouldn’t be really complicated. Here are a few recommendations to make your preparation straightforward.

  • Consult with your insurance provider to see if they provide any coverage that may help you and verify if it applies to you.
  • Just to be sure that you don’t forget, be sure to create a quick summary of some of the questions you may want your dietitian to answer.

What Should I Bring to a Dietitian Appointment?

There are not a lot of things you should carry to your dietitian appointment in Singapore. Here a quick rundown of the vital things you should bring to a dietitian appointment, though.

  • Latest blood work or lab test results.
  • A blood glucose log if you’re dealing with diabetes.
  • An ID card and Insurance card(s).
  • If referred, you may need to carry the referral form.
  • If you’re currently using any medications or supplements, be sure to list them down and bring that list to the clinic.

Wrapping Up

You may need more appointments depending on your needs and how you progress after the recommendations. It is important that you attend the follow-up appointments too.

The follow-up visits may last around 20 to 30 minutes each, and majorly focus on checking your progress and seeing if there are any necessary adjustments to be made. You should work with your dietitian in Singapore to determine your follow-up visits’ appropriate frequency and timing. Don’t let simple diet complications degrade your quality of life. Book an appointment with us today for a simplified diet plan.