Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is nutrition counseling from a registered dietitian to help meet your medical or health goals. MNT can help delay CKD progression, prevent or treat complications, and improve your quality of life.

Dietitians who specialize in the nutritional needs of people with CKD are called renal dietitians. You can find a registered dietitian who specializes in kidney disease through the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics online or through your health care professional.

If you are enrolled in Medicare and have CKD, Medicare will cover MNT services. You need a written referral from a doctor, and the MNT must be provided by a registered dietitian or nutrition professional. If you have insurance other than Medicare, ask your insurance provider if your insurance covers MNT for people with kidney disease.

Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers medical nutrition therapy services if you have diabetes or kidney disease, or you’ve had a kidney transplant in the last 36 months, and your doctor refers you for services.

Your costs in Original Medicare

You pay nothing for these preventive services if you qualify to get them.

Your doctor may recommend you get services more often than Medicare covers. Or, they may recommend services that Medicare doesn't cover. If this happens, you may have to pay some or all of the costs. Ask questions so you understand why your doctor is recommending certain services and if, or how much, Medicare will pay for them.

Services may include:

• An initial nutrition and lifestyle assessment
• Individual and/or group nutritional therapy services
• Help managing the lifestyle factors that affect your diabetes
• Follow-up visits to check on your progress in managing your diet

Do you want to lose or gain weight? Are you pregnant, looking to become pregnant or just had a child? Are you looking for ways to maintain your health in your older years? Are you an athlete looking to boost performance? These are just a few of the reasons people seek the expert, science-based advice of a registered dietitian.

Here are 10 common reasons to you should consult with a registered dietitian:

1. You have diabetes, cardiovascular problems or high blood pressure. A registered dietitian serves as an integral part of your health-care team by helping you safely change your eating plan without compromising taste or nutrition.

2. You are thinking of having or have had gastric bypass surgery. Since your stomach can only manage small servings, it's a challenge to get the right amount of nutrients in your body. An RD will work with you and your physician to develop an eating plan for your new needs.

3. You have digestive problems. A registered dietitian will work with your physician to help fine-tune your diet so you are not aggravating your condition with fried foods, too much caffeine or carbonation.

4. You're pregnant or trying to get pregnant. A registered dietitian can help make sure you get nutrients like folate, especially during the first three months of pregnancy, lowering your newborn’s risk for neural tube or spinal cord defects.

5. You need guidance and confidence for breastfeeding your baby. A registered dietitian can help make sure you're getting enough iron, vitamin D, fluoride and B vitamins for you and your little one.

6. Your teenager has issues with food and eating healthfully. A registered dietitian can assist with eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia and overweight issues.

7. You need to gain or lose weight. A registered dietitian can suggest additional calorie sources for healthy weight gain or a restricted-calorie eating plan plus regular physical activity for weight loss while still eating all your favorite foods.

8. You're caring for an aging parent. A registered dietitian can help with food or drug interaction, proper hydration, special diets for hypertension and changing taste buds as you age.

9. You want to eat smarter. A registered dietitian can help you sort through misinformation; learn how to read labels at the supermarket; discover that healthy cooking is inexpensive, learn how to eat out without ruining your eating plan and how to resist workplace temptations.

10. You want to improve your performance in sports. A registered dietitian can help you set goals to achieve results — whether you're running a marathon, skiing or jogging with your dog.

What is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist?
Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) are the food and nutrition experts. RDNs have special training to offer medical nutrition therapy and work as part of the health care team or Primary Care Aligned Care Team (PACT) in the treatment and prevention of disease. RDNs promote healthy lifestyle choices and create personal nutrition plans for individuals of all ages using a whole health approach. RDNs empower and equip people to take charge of their health and well-being to live their life to the fullest. They are able to separate facts from fads and give you evidenced-based nutrition information that you can use.

RDNs use medical nutrition therapy to:

• Review your personal eating habits and nutrition health
• Explain how your food and lifestyle choices impact your health
• Develop a personalized nutrition plan for you

Top reasons to visit an RDN for medical nutrition therapy:

• You want to eat smarter and include foods that you enjoy into a healthy lifestyle
• You would like help managing diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, high blood pressure, or other chronic illnesses
• You have digestive problems
• You have cancer
• You need to gain or lose weight
• You are considering or have had bariatric surgery

A person who gives advice about healthy eating and lifestyle choices. Training and qualifications for nutritionists can vary, with some having formal education in nutrition, while others might not. Nutritionists may provide dietary counseling, meal planning, and nutrition education. A certified nutrition specialist is a nutrition expert with an advanced degree in nutrition or a related field who has passed a certification exam. Certified nutrition specialists are qualified to provide specialized nutrition advice to people who have certain medical conditions, such as obesity, high blood pressure, or diabetes, and medical nutrition therapy for managing and treating many health conditions.