Various Sundries Professional Nutritionist

Many of us mistakenly interpret the term nutritionist as a nutrition specialist. In fact, although both nutrition workers, authority and competence are clearly different. A nutritionist and / or nutrition expert is a competent nutritionist providing information about nutrition, as well as food recommendations and healthy eating patterns to the community at large. The educational background of the nutritionist is Diploma III, while the category of nutritionists with an S1 education background is known as a nutritionist and nutritionist. While nutrition specialist doctors are specialist doctors who focus on dealing with patient health problems related to nutrition, as well as providing nutritional medical therapy according to the patient's condition and oriented to the patient's disease history and general condition. His educational background is a general practitioner who has completed a master's degree in nutrition and underwent clinical education in clinical nutrition for 6 semesters. Clinical nutrition itself is a discipline that studies the relationship between food and nutrition intake in it with health and nutritional-related diseases and certain medical conditions. Starting from acute and chronic diseases, and the aging process (degenerative). Clinical nutrition is used in the aspects of preventing, healing, and preventing the continuing complications of an illness. Nutritionists have the authority to formulate the nutritional intake you need to support your health, whereas nutrition specialists have more authority. Nutrition specialists not only formulate nutrition intake, but also carry out other medical therapies related to the patient's condition, for example prescribing medicines, supplements, or medical actions related to nutrition and the patient's condition. Not infrequently, nutrition specialists will work together with other specialist doctors in dealing with the patient's condition, for example surgeons and internal medicine doctors. Nutrition specialists also play an important role in advancing public health through health education and promotion efforts, especially in the field of nutrition.

Clinical Authority of Nutritionist Specialists

The competency possessed by a doctor in the form of the ability to carry out clinical procedures related to health problems, such as determining the diagnosis through physical examination and medical interviews; supporting investigation; case management procedures to prevent, cure, and anticipate or reduce the risk of disease complications; to clinical emergency medical procedures. In this case, a clinical nutrition specialist doctor must have competencies in accordance with his field of work, namely providing nutritional management such as:

• Physical examination and history taking (medical interview).
• Providing health promotion related to nutrition and health to the community and patients as an effort to prevent disease.
• Review the nutritional status, metabolism, and digestive tract.
• Provide fulfillment of nutritional needs and fluids in patients.
• Provide nutritional therapy and certain diets, for example prescribe the amount of calories, protein, carbohydrates, fats, fiber, vitamins, and minerals needed.
• Determine the way of providing nutrition, either orally (eating as usual), feeding through the stomach tube (nasogastric tube / NGT), or through infusion.
• Evaluate nutritional status, as well as overall patient health after nutritional care.

Diseases Treated by Nutritionist Specialists

Nutrition specialists have clinical authority to provide nutrition management for the following health problems:

• Nutritional status issues

These include malnutrition, such as obesity, micronutrient deficiencies (vitamins and minerals), marasmus and kwashiorkor; nutritional disorders in vulnerable groups such as infants, children, adolescents, pregnant and lactating women, and the elderly.

• Impaired organ function and metabolism

These include preparing nutrition for patients with gastrointestinal disorders, impaired liver and pancreas function; metabolic and endocrine disorders such as in diabetes; lung and respiratory problems; neurological disease; disorders of the kidneys and urinary tract: and heart and blood vessel disease.

• Other diseases related to the immune system and malignant diseases

For example in cases of food allergies, HIV / AIDS patient nutrition, nutritional care in cancer patients. Nutrition management is also given to patients who receive intensive care.

• Nutritional care in cases of severe injuries

Nutrition specialists also have the authority to determine the evaluation of nutritional status and nutritional needs of severely injured patients, such as extensive burns or injured patients who need surgery.

• Improved nutrition in eating disorders

Includes eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. People with eating disorders often experience severe malnutrition and dehydration which is harmful to their health. Besides being treated by a psychiatrist, improvement in nutritional status in people with eating disorders is also usually handled by a specialist nutritionist.

The Right Time to Meet a Nutritionist

You can see a nutrition specialist when you need a consultation related to nutrition and diet, either due to certain medical conditions or for improving nutrition and the health program that you are running. A person can consult a nutrition specialist on referral from a doctor who handles a patient's illness or because of the patient's own initiative. For example, in cancer patients who have lost weight and appetite due to the side effects of chemotherapy, it is recommended to consult a specialist nutritionist on the referral of the treating doctor. Another example, in the case of obesity, patients need nutritional consultation and diet to lose weight, as well as other medical measures to overcome obesity.

Consultation Preparation to a Nutritionist

Before seeing a nutrition specialist, you should prepare the following:

• Prepare a record of the questions you want to ask and a history of complaints or symptoms that you experience, as well as a history of eating patterns and daily activities.
• If available, prepare documents related to supporting examinations, such as blood, X-ray, or CT-scan results.
• Inform the doctor about drugs and supplements that are being consumed.
• If after an examination a nutrition specialist prescribes a medication or recommended diet, make sure you understand it. Also ask about available treatment options, success rates, and risks of each treatment.
• Make sure you choose a competent nutrition specialist. You can ask for recommendations from general practitioners, internal medicine doctors, or relatives' recommendations. Make sure the doctor you choose is able to communicate well in explaining nutrition or the necessary treatment steps.
• Be sure to choose facilities and services that have a good, complete and friendly image.
• If you want to take advantage of your BPJS or insurance, make sure the hospital or clinic is affiliated with your BPJS or insurance provider.

After undergoing a consultation and examination, a nutrition specialist will determine your disease diagnosis and nutritional status, and determine a nutritional therapy plan to deal with the condition.