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Referring Patients With Type 2 Diabetes To A Registered Dietitian Nutritionist In New Mexico, Rebecca A. Lamoreux

Individual, Family, and Community Education ETDs

Prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes (T2DM) in New Mexico (NM) has steadily increased to 12.5% in 2019.¹Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) play a critical role in the T2DM healthcare team. A web-based survey was distributed to NM clinicians [Medical Doctors (MD), Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (DO), Certified Nurse Practitioners (CNP), and Certified Physician Assistants (PA-C)] investigating barriers preventing referral of patients with T2DM to an RDN.

In total, 132 clinicians completed the survey (average age=52 years; 54.5% CNPs, 32.6% MDs, 9.1% PA-Cs, 3.9% DOs; 44% female). Most (67.4%) did not have an RDN employed in their practice. The majority …