Dietetics

Dietitians are qualified healthcare professionals who can assess the patients' nutritional status, diagnose and plan the necessary intervention for the patients' requirements based on their medical, dietary and psychosocial history. They will then monitor and evaluate that the treatment plan augments the physicians' treatment.

Dietitians translate scientific evidence-based research on nutrition, health and disease and apply this information into practical nutrition guidelines to help patients understand the relationship between food and health.

At the Singapore General Hospital, Dietitians liaise closely with other healthcare professionals to provide patient care.

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Inpatient Services

Dietitians provide medical nutrition therapy to patients, which includes individual diet education and counselling and nutrition support, in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

Diet Education and Counselling

Dietitians assess patients' nutritional status and develop individualised nutrition care plans based on patients' medical, dietary and psychosocial history. Medical nutrition therapy is provided to patients with the following conditions (but not limited to):

diabetes (type 1, type 2, gestational)
dyslipidaemia
heart failure
chronic kidney disease
dialysis treatment (haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis)
cancer
post organ transplant (kidney, liver, heart)
bone marrow transplant
dysphagia, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, neurosurgery
conditions requiring hyperalimentation (e.g. burns, cancer and trauma)
liver disease
irritable bowel syndrome
inflammatory bowel disease
eating disorders (anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa)
overweight/obesity (meal replacement, bariatric surgery)
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
osteoporosis
food allergy

Nutritional Support

Patients who are critically-ill and malnourished may experience loss of appetite and/or swallowing difficulties. Hence, depending solely on their diet/food intake to meet nutritional requirements may not be sufficient for them. Dietitians play the paramount role of tailoring nutritional support plans according to patients' medical conditions, nutritional goals and preferences.

Types of nutritional support include: