Rebecca Dombkowski, RD, LDN

The Emerging Trends Research Project will provide the intern an opportunity to address a need related to an emerging trend in either clinical, community, or foodservice management dietetics. The project will allow the intern to utilize the systems theory and a process approach to identify a research need, develop and implement a research design and method, analyze results and apply findings in dietetics practice. 

         Diabetes Mellitus type 2 is a medical condition that is rapidly growing and chronic. Registered dietitians, nurses, physicians and other healthcare professionals need to come together to put an end to this emerging trend. Since obesity rates are increasing all over the world, type 2 diabetes is emerging as obesity’s complication. Education is the key to prevent this chronic medical disease and its complications from happening. In the healthcare setting, education can be given in the form of handouts, inpatient counseling and outpatient classes. When hospitals see reoccurring patients from being noncompliant with a diabetic diet and not monitoring blood glucose levels, then the focus needs to be on the education that is given to theses patients.
            This research study compared the effectiveness of inpatient and outpatient education with type 2 diabetics. All participants were between the ages of eighteen and eighty years old. Any person with diabetes type 2 within this age range who was newly diagnosed, had complications, and or wanted to learn more about their disease, received education in the hospital or in the outpatient diabetic class. The participants were asked a few questions before any education was given and the same questions were asked after the counseling session. A total of twenty-eight participants were studied and the results showed that the participants in the outpatient setting had more of an understanding on how to control their diabetes through nutrition.

Supporting Documents

Emerging Trends Written Report

Emerging Trends Mini Poster

Emerging Trends Powerpoint Presentation