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From Checklists to Practice: Reframing Behavior Change in Clinical Care
I recently read a quote from James Clear that felt timely. In summary, he writes that many meaningful parts of life cannot be finished. Work, exercise, parenting, marriage. The goal is not to be done, but to settle into a daily lifestyle you can sustain and make steady progress within. It made me reflect on how often our patients approach health with a finite mindset. They want the checklist. The meal plan. The workout. The medication adjustment. Something to complete so they can feel done. But health is not a project with an endpoint. There will always be another meal,…
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Three Takeaways From ADA Clinical Updates: Turning Standards Into Practice
If you work in diabetes care and education and are a member of the American Diabetes Association, you’ve likely received the nearly 400-page Standards of Care journal in your mailbox. What began as a three-page reference document in 1989 has grown into a comprehensive resource that now rivals a phonebook. The depth of guidance is incredibly valuable, but translating all of those standards into day-to-day clinical practice can feel a bit daunting. Enter the ADA Clinical Updates Conference, an important piece of the puzzle that focuses on moving evidence off the page and into real-world care. After spending the weekend…
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Dietary Guidelines vs. Diabetes Care: What Works, What Doesn’t
If you work in the nutrition, wellness, or public health space or honestly if you were just on the internet this week, you probably noticed the stir around the release of the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The 2025–2030 update has arrived with no shortage of commentary, critique, endorsements, and of course, funny and creative memes. Love them or hate them, these guidelines are clearly fueling plenty of online chatter. But what does all of this actually mean for people living with diabetes? Are these new guidelines helpful or harmful? And how do they stack up against the nutrition guidance outlined…
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New Year, Evolving Needs: Diabetes Care Services for 2026
Diabetes care continues to evolve quickly, and by 2026 many clinicians and organizations are feeling the strain of doing more with fewer resources. Workforce shortages, rapid advances in medications and technology, and growing expectations for outcomes have changed what day-to-day diabetes care looks like. Over the past year, I have spent time listening closely to patients, clinicians, and care teams, and refining my services to better reflect these realities. My goal is to offer practical, evidence-based support that feels truly helpful in today’s care environment. My updated services are designed to support clinicians, strengthen programs, and expand access to high-quality,…
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The Articles You Read Most in 2025 (And Why I Wrote Them)
As 2025 comes to a close, I’ve been reflecting on the writing that mattered most, both to me and to the people who read it. This year, a few articles clearly stood out, not just in page views and shares, but in the conversations they sparked and the messages I received afterward. These pieces addressed topics I felt strongly needed clarity, nuance, or a more evidence-based lens, especially where misinformation and oversimplification are common. They represent the kind of work I most enjoy creating: thoughtful, science-grounded, and practical content. If you missed any of these, this is a great place…
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What Are Peptides and Why Is Everyone Talking About Them?
In keeping with the latest viral TikTok trends, I couldn’t help but notice the surge of content tagged with #peptides. This isn’t simply encouragement to eat more protein-rich foods like meat, fish, or eggs. Instead, the conversation has shifted toward pills, powders, tinctures, and even injections of various peptides, many of which were never covered in my dietetics training. Naturally, that raised questions. If we’re not talking about the peptides that come from whole foods, what exactly are people taking? I dug into the literature to better understand what peptides are, how they’re being used, and what we actually know…
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How GLP-1s Are Reshaping Consumer Behavior
It’s been about a month since FNCE 2025 in Nashville, and I’m still sifting through my notes and revisiting the sessions I loved. One that stood out was the panel “The GLP-1 Effect: Understanding Consumer Behavior Shifts and Their Impact on Food, Nutrition, and Innovation.” The sheer scale of GLP-1 adoption and the depth of the data presented were striking. What made the session even more compelling was its interdisciplinary perspective, bringing together insights from industry leaders, physicians, RDs, and AI-generated consumer modeling. GLP-1 medications are reshaping metabolic health, culture, consumer expectations, and the future of the food landscape. Here…
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Are You Ready to Lead in Diabetes Care and Education?
As I returned from Chicago after the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists Board of Directors orientation and quarterly meeting, I found myself reflecting on what it means to lead in a field that is evolving faster than ever. With rapid advances in technology, changes in telehealth opportunities, and the emergence of new therapies like GLP-1s for obesity treatment, it is clear that the future of diabetes care will be shaped not only by seasoned experts but also by those willing to step forward, ask questions, and share fresh ideas. Walking into that room as an incoming board member…
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ADCES25: Thriving in Diabetes Care & Education
The last week was a whirlwind of learning, growing, connecting, and plenty of laughs. Because when a bunch of diabetes care and education specialists get together, you know you’ve found your people. Who else gets excited to talk about CGM reports, autoantibody labs, and even bowel movements at 10 PM on a Saturday night? (Definitely a good call to leave the family at home for this one!) Every year when I head to the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists Annual Conference, I’m reminded how powerful it is to have a strong professional network, especially when you’re running your…
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Is Full-Fat Dairy Back on the Table?
I’d be lying if I said the thought of drinking milk didn’t make my stomach grumble, and not in a good way. Admittedly, I’m one of the growing number of Americans who has mostly phased dairy out of my routine (for the comfort of myself and those around me; if you know, you know). But that doesn’t mean I haven’t noticed the rising trend of full-fat dairy products popping up on store shelves and social feeds. After what feels like decades of low-fat everything, including yogurt, dips, buttery spreads, and salad dressings, we seem to have come full circle, welcoming…
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How Virtual Dietitians Are Expanding Access to Diabetes Care
For years, nutrition support has been an essential but underutilized part of diabetes care. Despite strong evidence that medical nutrition therapy improves outcomes, many people with diabetes have faced challenges accessing consistent, high-quality guidance from registered dietitians. That’s beginning to change. Virtual care is breaking down long-standing barriers, making it easier to connect with dietitians in timely, flexible, and personalized ways. As a result, virtual dietitians are helping close critical gaps in care, and nutrition counseling is becoming more central and more accessible than ever before.
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Debunk the Junk: 4 Common Myths About Insulin Pumps
Starting on an insulin pump can feel like a big step, especially for someone who’s been managing their diabetes a certain way for years. But with the right support, it can also be an empowering transition. As clinicians, we each bring our own experiences and perspectives when it comes to diabetes technology. And often, our patients surprise us in wonderful ways. That’s why it’s helpful to pause and reflect on the assumptions we may carry about who’s “right” for pump therapy. Let’s explore a few common myths I hear in practice. By unpacking these together, we can make more personalized,…
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What’s the Deal with GLP-1 Microdosing?
Is Less Really More? When it comes to GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy, that’s the question more providers and patients are starting to ask. Originally approved for type 2 diabetes and later for obesity treatment, GLP-1 and other incretin-based therapies have rapidly gained traction in both clinical and consumer spaces. If you’re newer to prescribing or supporting GLP-1 therapy, I’ve put together a four-part series covering key considerations, including initiation, weight management, cost, and side effect mitigation. Now, a new conversation is emerging: GLP-1 microdosing. What does microdosing mean in this context? Does it have clinical merit? And who…
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Does CGM Tell the Whole Story? A Second Look at Lingo for Metabolic Monitoring
I recently revisited Lingo, Abbott’s direct-to-consumer continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) system, after a new wave of clients began seeking guidance on how to use it to support metabolic health, including diabetes prevention, insulin resistance, and weight loss. Last fall, I tested and reviewed the device with a focus on its hardware, technical features, usability, and accuracy. This time, however, I’m evaluating Lingo from a different angle: its potential role in health coaching and behavior change. What can continuous glucose monitoring really tell us about metabolic health—or overall well-being? Does it provide the full picture? More importantly, how does it actually…
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Congratulations to the Graduating Class of 2025!
On May 30th, I had the opportunity to speak to the graduating dietetic interns at Children’s Hospital Colorado, sharing my journey from clinical care to entrepreneurship in diabetes care and education. Here are a few reflections and words of wisdom I’ve embraced along the way.
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Goodbye BMI? Why Body Composition Is Gaining Ground in Clinics
The rise of incretin-based therapies for obesity care, like Wegovy (semaglutide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide), has brought renewed attention to the risk of muscle atrophy that can accompany rapid weight loss. To better assess changes in skeletal muscle mass, clinicians are turning to body composition assessment tools to track progress over time. However, the ability to measure, interpret, and communicate changes in body composition is a skill most clinicians haven’t been formally trained in, leaving many feeling like it’s not a tool they can confidently use. I want to push back against that assumption and offer some basic principles to help…
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What Is Type 5 Diabetes? Exploring the Newest Diagnostic Category
If you’ve seen a new diabetes diagnosis category circulating in medical circles and found yourself confused, thinking, “I don’t remember learning about that type in medical, nursing, or dietetics school,” don’t worry. It’s not necessarily a brand-new form of diabetes, but rather a reclassification of an existing phenotype, now described with clearer criteria and greater focus on its underlying causes. Malnutrition-related diabetes, now referred to as Type 5 Diabetes, was recently recognized by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Let’s explore what this new classification means and how it may impact your practice. What is Type 5 Diabetes? Type 5 diabetes…
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DCES Leadership in the Future of Wearable Health Technology
In a recent issue of Healthcare150, a newsletter spotlighting key healthcare trends, I was struck by the projected growth of wearable devices—from $14.5 billion in 2020 to $76.1 billion by 2029. In my nutrition practice, I see just how common sleep, activity, and glucose trackers have become. This kind of growth points to a broader shift, that digital health tools are becoming deeply integrated into mainstream self care. Wearables are now central to both cost-efficiency efforts in healthcare and the growing demand for a highly personalized approach. Here are a few standout trends—and the exciting opportunities I see for diabetes…
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GLP-1 Therapy Part 4: Navigating the Decision to Discontinue
I recently had the pleasure of speaking at the Colorado Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Annual Conference on the topic of nutrition strategies for effective GLP-1 use in obesity treatment. This premier event, dedicated to supporting nutrition and dietetics professionals in Colorado, offered a valuable opportunity to share updated evidence on GLP-1 therapies, while also debunking common myths to promote informed and unbiased nutrition counseling. In this four-part series, I’m excited to share my key recommendations to help support your practice. In Part 4, we’ll discuss some of the key questions to consider when deciding whether to discontinue therapy. New…
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GLP-1 Therapy Part 3: Strategies for Successful Weight Loss
I recently had the pleasure of speaking at the Colorado Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Annual Conference on the topic of nutrition strategies for effective GLP-1 use in obesity treatment. This premier event, dedicated to supporting nutrition and dietetics professionals in Colorado, offered a valuable opportunity to share updated evidence on GLP-1 therapies, while also debunking common myths to promote informed and unbiased nutrition counseling. In this four-part series, I’m excited to share my key recommendations to help support your practice. In Part 3, we’ll discuss strategies for successful weight loss while on GLP-1 therapy, as well as the transition…
