Amy Harris Career Portfolio

Skill Area: Medical Nutrition Therapy

Assignment title: Case Study: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

What I learned: This assignment was essential for learning how to evaluate a case study and by using the information provided, research the pathophysiology of the particular condition. I interpreted the patient’s biochemical measurements and interpreted lab values, calculated the patient’s anthropometric measurements and researched any nutrient-drug interactions. I wrote a PES statement targeting the most critical nutrition related goal for this patient’s condition followed by recommendations for improvements to the diet and the reasons behind those recommendations.

Reflection to assignment: This assignment introduced me to the amount of detective work involved in a case study. As the case unfolds, more and more information begins to emerge and the nutrition therapy begins to fall into place as the lab values reveal hidden information about a patient’s condition. The anthropometric data begins to lead you in the direction necessary to help improve the quality of life for the patient, while the PES statement ties all the loose ends of the investigation together. With this solid focus, you can then recommend medical nutrition therapy for the patient’s condition.

Relevance to the profession:  All aspects of dietetics have an investigational aspect to them and Medical Nutritional Therapy is a very important facet of the profession. Research is essential in the practical application of nutrition whether it is in a clinical or office setting. The application of that research is what we as future dietetic professionals are learning by completing these case studies.