Nutrition
The Nutrition department provides nutritional/dietary counseling, education, and medical therapy. We treat patients in all stages of life.
Through our partnerships in local community collaboratives such as Santa Barbara City College Adult Education, Cottage Health Systems Parrish Nurse Program, and Partners for a Fit Youth, Sansum Clinic's dieticians are also actively engaged in bettering the health of our community.
Our diabetes education program, "Live Well with Diabetes", is recognized by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) as meeting their National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education. Taught by certified diabetes educators (CDEs), this comprehensive series is designed to help patients and their families enjoy healthy lives.
What is a Registered Dietitian?
Registered Dietitians (RDs) are trained in the science of nutrition. They help you to reduce your risk and control health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, food allergies and cancer through nutrition.
What does a Registered Dietitian do?
Your RD will talk with you about your health, your lifestyle and the type of foods you enjoy. You will work together to make goals and a plan of action. This is sometimes called Medical Nutrition Therapy.
How can a Registered Dietitian help me achieve better health?
Based on your individual needs, an RD can help you:
- Separate nutrition facts and myths
- Make food choices for optimal health
- Achieve your goal weight
- Increase your level of energy
- Start an exercise program
- Learn tips for shopping, cooking and dining out
- Plan easy and affordable meals
Special Services
- Body composition for Premier Physical Program (formerly The One Program)
- Courses teaching patients and families how to effectively manage diabetes, cholesterol, or weight.
- Gluten-free diets for celiac disease patients
Adult Conditions
- Abnormal weight gain/loss
- Adult failure to thrive
- Anemia
- Anorexia (loss of appetite) & anorexia nervosa
- Bulimia
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Cirrhosis of liver
- Colitis
- Constipation
- Crohn's disease
- Depressive disorder
- Diabetes (including pre-diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes)
- Diarrhea
- Diverticulitis
- Diverticulosis
- Dysphagia
- Early satiety
- Esophageal reflux
- Esophageal striture
- Fibromyalgia
- Flatulance & gas pain
- Food allergy
- Food poisoning
- Food refusal
- Gastroenteritis
- Graves disease
- Heartburn
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- High cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia)
- High triglycerides
- Hyperlipidemia
- Hypervitaminosis
- Hypoalbuminemia (decreased albumin in the blood)
- Irritable colon & irritable bowel syndrome
- Kidney disease (renal disease) & kidney failure (renal failure)
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Malnutrition (cachexia)
- Metabolic syndrome (dysmetabolic syndrome X)
- Nephritis
- Obesity & morbid obesity
- Osteoarthrosis
- Osteoporosis
- Overeating (hyperailimentation)
- Parkinsons disease
- Polycystic disease
- Reflux (reflux esophagitis)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Ulcerative colitis
- Ulcers
Pediatric Conditions
- Childhood obesity
- Delayed growth
- Delayed puberty
- Failure to thrive
- Fructose intolerance
- Infant feeding problems
- Lactose intolerance