The Nutrition Clinic
Mission:
The mission of the Nutrition Clinic is to serve as a resource for evidenced-based nutrition services while engaging in innovative research initiatives and training students to be future nutrition professionals.
Our Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) provide medical nutrition therapy (MNT) counseling for individuals and group nutrition education classes that include disease prevention to support optimal health and medical illness management. As an academic education unit, we are able to connect community members to research studies and prepare nutrition students to become healthcare professionals and leaders.
Objectives:
- Provide evidence-based, outpatient, and telehealth medical nutrition therapy counseling
- Deliver community-engaged nutrition education classes
- Conduct innovative, interdisciplinary nutrition research
- Educate and train nutrition students through experiential learning opportunities
Resources:
As part of the Department of Health Behavior and Nutrition Sciences in the College of Health Sciences, the Nutrition Clinic integrates MNT counseling, research and student training into practice. Located in STAR (Science, Technology & Advanced Research) campus at the University of Delaware, the Nutrition Clinic is a state-of-the-art facility with access to counseling rooms with built-in observation technology, and nutrition assessment equipment, online and telemedicine format capabilities, patient simulation, and healthcare theatre and group classroom space. As part of the UD Health Clinic network, our facility has ancillary billing, electronic medical record, and scheduling support.
- Medical Nutrition Therapy Counseling
- National Diabetes Prevention Program at UD
- Research
- Student Training
- Location & Directions
- Forms
What is Medical Nutrition Therapy?
Medical nutrition therapy (MNT) is a personalized, nutrition-based treatment plan created by Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs). The goal of MNT is to help a person manage health conditions and enhance their well-being through nutrition. MNT includes assessing an individual's health status, medical history and eating patterns; identifying any dietary issues; and creating a personalized, culturally appropriate and medically supervised nutrition plan to treat and manage one or more health conditions.
Who are RDNs?
RDNs are credentialed nutrition and health experts. They provide evidenced-based, personalized nutrition plans to help people manage their diets. RDNs hold a graduate degree, graduated from an accredited dietetics program, completed extensive supervised practice hours through an internship program, passed a national credentialing exam, and stay current through required ongoing education throughout their careers. They are the recognized nutrition experts and leaders in the field of nutrition.
Who can benefit from MNT?
Anyone, especially when MNT is used as part of a treatment plan for people with one or more health conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, eating disorders, kidney and gastrointestinal disease, food allergies and intolerances, and other chronic diseases or complex health problems. MNT improves overall nutrition, supports weight management, and can help prevent, delay, or manage many health conditions.
Your diet and nutrient intake play an important part in your overall health and well-being. Our Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) will perform a thorough nutritional assessment and work with you to create a personalized eating plan and provide support to monitor your progress and help you improve your overall health.
We offer an integrated, evidence-based MNT counseling that includes consultation with other health care providers to tailor a treatment plan that meets your individual health and medical needs. Sessions may also include tips for meal planning, shopping, eating out, recipes and ideas to incorporate physical activity into your daily routine.
MNT counseling is available for the following conditions:
Weight management (gain or loss)
Diabetes and prediabetes
Heart disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol
Eating disorders and disordered eating
Gastrointestinal disorders
Food and drug interactions
Food allergies and intolerances
Bariatric surgery (pre/post-surgery)
Cancer
Sports nutrition
Other special diets
MNT counseling is often covered by insurance providers and we encourage you to call to find out if your plan covers our services. We accept most major health insurance plans including:
Aetna
Amerihealth
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Cigna
Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
Independence Blue Cross Blue Shield
Medicare
PREVENT TYPE 2 DIABETES WITH THE PreventT2 PROGRAM
What Is Type 2 Diabetes? 
Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. Most of the food we eat is turned into glucose, or sugar, for our bodies to use for energy. The pancreas, an organ that lies near the stomach, makes a hormone called insulin to help glucose get into the cells of our bodies. When you have type 2 diabetes, your body can’t use its own insulin as well as it should. This causes sugar to build up in your blood.
Type 2 diabetes is a serious condition. It can lead to health issues such as heart attack; stroke; blindness; kidney failure; or loss of toes, feet, or legs.
What Is Prediabetes?
Prediabetes is a blood glucose (sugar) level that is higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. One in three American adults has prediabetes, and most do not even know they have it. If you have prediabetes and do not lose weight or do moderate physical activity, you can develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years.
Am I at Risk for Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes?
You are at increased risk for developing prediabetes and type 2 diabetes if you:
Are 45 years of age or older;
Are overweight;
Have a family history of type 2 diabetes;
Are physically active fewer than three times per week; or
Ever had diabetes while pregnant (gestational diabetes) or gave birth to a baby that weighed more than 9 pounds.
If you think you may be at risk, a health care provider can do a blood test to see if you have diabetes or prediabetes.
Can I Prevent Type 2 Diabetes?
Yes! Hearing your doctor say, “You’re at risk for type 2 diabetes,” or “You have prediabetes,” means that you can start preventing type 2 diabetes today. And you do not have to do it alone. Finding the PreventT2 program was your first step on that journey. If you have prediabetes, now is the time for prevention. The University of Delaware PreventT2 lifestyle change program can help you take charge of your health to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.
What is the PreventT2 Lifestyle Change Program?
PreventT2 is part of the National Diabetes Prevention Program, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is proven to help people with prediabetes prevent or delay development of type 2 diabetes.
What Is the Benefit of Being Part of a PreventT2 Program?
As part of a PreventT2 group, you will work with other participants and a trained lifestyle coach to learn the skills you need to make lasting changes. These changes include losing a modest amount of weight, being more physically active, and managing stress.
Being part of a group provides support from other people who are facing similar challenges and trying to make the same changes you are. Together you can celebrate successes and find ways to overcome obstacles.
What Is the Format of thePreventT2 Program?
PreventT2 groups meet for a year — weekly for the first 4 months, then once or twice a month for the second ½ of the year to maintain healthy lifestyle changes. During each session, your lifestyle coach will teach a lesson and lead a group discussion.
For example, you will learn to:
Eat healthy
Add physical activity to your life
Manage stress
- Stay on track when eating out
- Understand and respond to your food cues
- Stay motivated
- Solve problems that can get in the way of healthy changes
Where Can I Participate in a National Diabetes PreventT2 Program?
Prevent T2 classes are offered by the Nutrition and Clinical Health Coaching Clinics at the STAR Campus. Please call 302-831-1165 or email nutrition-clinic@udel.edu for more information.
Some insurance plans will cover the cost for PreventT2. You can check with your insurance provider to see if PreventT2 is covered, but we will also help you determine if your insurance plan covers the program. If you insurance does not cover the program, we have a reasonable self-pay rate for this effective 12-month program. Please call for more details.
Does PreventT2 Work?
The PreventT2 program can help people with prediabetes cut their risk of developing type 2 diabetes in half. The Diabetes Prevention Program research study showed that making modest behavior changes helped participants lose 5 to 7 percent of their body weight — that is 10 to 14 pounds for a person weighing 200 pounds. These lifestyle changes reduced the risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 58 percent in people with prediabetes.
PreventT2 is part of the National Diabetes Prevention Program, led by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The Nutrition Clinic is involved in a number of ongoing research studies to study the effectiveness of our programs and to enhance the training of our nutrition students and dietetic interns. Please contact us at 302-831-3839 or email nutrition-clinic@udel.edu for more information.
- Aligning Nutrition, Exercise, and Wellness (ANEW), August 2017 - Ongoing
- The Impact of the Diabetes Prevention Lifestyle Change Program on Adult Participant Health-Related Outcomes, October 2019 – Ongoing
- Implementing a Fruit and Vegetable Prescription (FVRx) Program in Adults with a Mental Health Disability in Delaware, July 2023 - Ongoing
- Assessing Outcomes from a Brain Wellness Education Information Support and Empowerment Program, July 2023 - Ongoing
- Relationship between Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes and Achilles Tendon Health, October 2023 - Ongoing
UD students and dietetic interns have the opportunity to participate in experiential learning patient care and research activities in the Clinic. Students are fully oriented to UD Health Clinic operating procedures that includes HIPAA, Protection of Human Subjects, Information Security and Electronic Medical Record training.
Patient care opportunities include nutrition counseling session shadowing, health history intake and review, height, weight, and blood pressure measurements and diet record analysis. Research training opportunities include anthropometric measures assessment, REDCap database form creation and data entry, and participation in class delivery and assessment activities related to the PreventT2 @ UD National Diabetes Prevention Program Classes.
If you are interested in student learning opportunity activities, please complete the Student Application Form and email to nutrition-clinic@udel.edu.
Location: Please arrive for your appointment at the Nutrition Clinic 10 minutes before your scheduled appointment to complete forms and check-in assessments. We are located on the 2nd floor of the STAR Tower at 100 Discovery Boulevard, Newark DE 19713
Parking: Use the Discovery Boulevard Entrance for Free Visitor Parking across from the entrance to the building. You must park in the designated Visitor Parking spots to ensure you do not receive a parking ticket.
New Patient
- UD Health Notice of Privacy Practices
- UD Health Consent and Acknowledgement of Privacy Practices
- Telehealth Consent Form
- New Patient Registration Form
- Medical Nutrition Therapy Referral Form
- Food and Nutrition History From
- Food Record Form - Word
- Food Record Form - PDF
- Authorization to Release Information to UD Health Nutrition Clinic
- Authorization to Release Information from UD Health Nutrition Clinic
Medicare Patient
- Advance Beneficiary Notice of Non-coverage (ABN) Form
- Medicare Secondary Payer Questionnaire (MSPQ) Short Form
National Diabetes Prevention PreventT2 Program
Student Applications
Donna Paulhamus, MS, RDN, LDN
Donna Paulhamus is Director of the Nutrition Clinic at the University of Delaware. She has over 30 years of experience in the field of nutrition including practice as clinical dietitian, the provision of medical nutrition therapy, and the management of multi-million-dollar NIH research studies. Since joining the University of Delaware in 2019, she has established UD as a provider of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Type 2 Diabetes program, developed numerous clinical and community partners, and increased the number of patients served and students trained in the Nutrition Clinic. Her clinical nutrition interests include cardiovascular disease and diabetes prevention and management and medical nutrition therapy for those affected with mental health and substance misuse disorders.
Sharon Collison, MS, RDN, LDN, CSSD
Sharon Collison is a licensed Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist, she is also board certified in sports dietetics. Ms. Collison has a Master of Science degree in Human Nutrition with a focus in exercise physiology and sports nutrition. She specializes in providing medical nutrition therapy for weight management, disordered eating, sports, wellness and cardiovascular nutrition.
PRIVACY PRACTICES (English) | PRIVACY PRACTICES (Spanish) | NON-DISCRIMINATION POLICY
ADDITIONAL LINKS
Connect
Tower at STAR: 100 Discovery Blvd, Newark, DE 19713<br> Health Sciences Complex: 540 S. College Ave, Newark, DE 19713 chs-info@udel.edu Phone: 302-831-1060