Diabetes dietitian and nutritionist, by telehealth in 18 states
I'm Dr. Ambily Kushal, RD, MS, PhD. Type 2 diabetes, prediabetes and insulin resistance are a large part of my practice, alongside nutrition support for people taking GLP-1 medications. I see patients by telehealth in 18 states, with a section below for each one, and in person in Seattle.
Quick answers
Can a dietitian help with type 2 diabetes?
Yes. Medical nutrition therapy from a registered dietitian is a standard part of diabetes care, and it can help lower HbA1c, support weight and blood pressure, and reduce cardiovascular risk. For some people, sustained weight loss and lifestyle change lead to remission, under medical supervision; that is possible, not guaranteed.
Is a diabetes nutritionist covered by insurance?
Often. Many commercial plans cover medical nutrition therapy for diabetes, and Medicare Part B covers it for people with diabetes when a physician refers them, though Medicare is not on the plan list on my Fay profile. Many patients pay $0 when their plan covers medical nutrition therapy; coverage depends on your plan, and Fay Nutrition checks your benefits before you book. Self-pay is $140 a session through CognitiveMind.
Looking for the best diabetes dietitian in your state? What should you check?
Check that they are a registered dietitian licensed in your state, that they look at your labs and medication list, and that they coordinate with your physician on any change that could cause low blood sugar. I'm licensed in the 18 states listed below and see patients in each by secure video.
Type 2 diabetes
The aim is a plan built around your HbA1c, your glucose pattern across the day, your medications and your life, rather than a generic "diabetic diet". The levers with the best evidence are carbohydrate quality and how it is distributed across the day, protein and fiber at each meal, weight where there is weight to lose, regular activity including resistance training, and sleep.
One safety point matters more than any food: if you take insulin or a sulfonylurea, eating less carbohydrate can cause low blood sugar. Changes like that are coordinated with the physician who prescribes your medication, and any medication change is theirs to make.
Prediabetes
Prediabetes is usually an HbA1c of 5.7% to 6.4%, or a fasting glucose of 100 to 125 mg/dL. In the Diabetes Prevention Program, a structured lifestyle programme reduced progression to type 2 diabetes by 58%, compared with 31% for metformin. It is the stage where nutrition has the strongest evidence of all. Prediabetes and insulin resistance in detail.
Insulin resistance
Insulin resistance can run for years before blood sugar rises, with the pancreas producing more insulin to keep the numbers looking normal. It sits underneath much of prediabetes, PCOS and fatty liver, which is why those conditions often improve together. Muscle is where most glucose is used, so resistance training is one of the most direct levers available. PCOS · Fatty liver.
GLP-1 nutrition
Semaglutide and tirzepatide change how much you eat; nutrition decides what that leaves you with. Protein, resistance training, managing nausea and constipation through how you eat, and building habits that hold if you stop are the core of it. GLP-1 nutrition support in detail.
Can type 2 diabetes go into remission?
For some people, yes. Remission is generally defined as an HbA1c below 6.5% for at least three months without glucose-lowering medication. It is more likely with substantial, sustained weight loss and earlier after diagnosis, it needs medical supervision, and it needs maintaining. It is not a cure, and not everyone reaches it. What the evidence on reversing metabolic disease shows.
Diabetes care in each of my 18 states
I'm licensed in every state below and see patients there by secure video. Insurance runs through Fay, which checks your plan first; national carriers such as Aetna, Cigna and UnitedHealthcare apply in every state.
Diabetes dietitian in Arizona
Arizona keeps Mountain Time. Arizona does not observe daylight saving, so the gap from Dr. Ambily's Pacific practice hours shifts through the year — one hour ahead in winter, the same clock in summer.
Regional plans on my Fay profile in Arizona: Blue Cross Blue Shield. Patients book from Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa and across the state.
Dietitian in Arizona · Check coverage & book · Self-pay $140
Diabetes dietitian in California
California keeps Pacific Time. California shares Dr. Ambily's time zone, so every appointment time you see is the time you keep.
Regional plans on my Fay profile in California: Blue Shield, Anthem. Patients book from Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose and across the state.
Dietitian in California · Check coverage & book · Self-pay $140
Diabetes dietitian in Colorado
Colorado keeps Mountain Time. Colorado runs one hour ahead of Dr. Ambily's Pacific practice hours, so a 9:00 a.m. Pacific slot is 10:00 a.m. for you.
Regional plans on my Fay profile in Colorado: Anthem. Patients book from Denver, Colorado Springs, Aurora and across the state.
Dietitian in Colorado · Check coverage & book · Self-pay $140
Diabetes dietitian in Connecticut
Connecticut keeps Eastern Time. Connecticut runs three hours ahead of Dr. Ambily's Pacific practice hours, which makes her morning slots a comfortable midday appointment for you.
Regional plans on my Fay profile in Connecticut: Anthem, Oxford. Patients book from Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford and across the state.
Dietitian in Connecticut · Check coverage & book · Self-pay $140
Diabetes dietitian in Hawaii
Hawaii keeps Hawaii–Aleutian Time. Hawaii does not observe daylight saving, so it sits two hours behind Dr. Ambily's Pacific practice hours in winter and three in summer — her later appointments land early in your day.
Regional plans on my Fay profile in Hawaii: Blue Cross Blue Shield. Patients book from Honolulu, Pearl City, Hilo and across the state.
Diabetes dietitian in Illinois
Illinois keeps Central Time. Illinois runs two hours ahead of Dr. Ambily's Pacific practice hours, so a 9:00 a.m. Pacific slot is 11:00 a.m. for you.
Regional plans on my Fay profile in Illinois: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois. Patients book from Chicago, Aurora, Naperville and across the state.
Dietitian in Illinois · Check coverage & book · Self-pay $140
Diabetes dietitian in Indiana
Indiana keeps Eastern Time. Most of Indiana runs three hours ahead of Dr. Ambily's Pacific practice hours; the state's northwest and southwest corners keep Central Time, one hour closer.
Regional plans on my Fay profile in Indiana: Anthem. Patients book from Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Evansville and across the state.
Dietitian in Indiana · Check coverage & book · Self-pay $140
Diabetes dietitian in Massachusetts
Massachusetts keeps Eastern Time. Massachusetts runs three hours ahead of Dr. Ambily's Pacific practice hours, so her early slots fall comfortably into your lunch hour.
Regional plans on my Fay profile in Massachusetts: Blue Cross Blue Shield. Patients book from Boston, Worcester, Springfield and across the state.
Dietitian in Massachusetts · Check coverage & book · Self-pay $140
Diabetes dietitian in Michigan
Michigan keeps Eastern Time. Michigan runs three hours ahead of Dr. Ambily's Pacific practice hours, which turns her morning appointments into your afternoon.
Regional plans on my Fay profile in Michigan: Blue Care Network, Blue Cross Blue Shield. Patients book from Detroit, Grand Rapids, Ann Arbor and across the state.
Dietitian in Michigan · Check coverage & book · Self-pay $140
Diabetes dietitian in New Jersey
New Jersey keeps Eastern Time. New Jersey runs three hours ahead of Dr. Ambily's Pacific practice hours, so her first appointments of the day are your early afternoon.
Regional plans on my Fay profile in New Jersey: Horizon, Oxford. Patients book from Newark, Jersey City, Paterson and across the state.
Dietitian in New Jersey · Check coverage & book · Self-pay $140
Diabetes dietitian in New York
New York keeps Eastern Time. New York runs three hours ahead of Dr. Ambily's Pacific practice hours, making her morning slots a straightforward midday appointment for you.
Regional plans on my Fay profile in New York: Empire, Oxford. Patients book from New York City, Buffalo, Rochester and across the state.
Dietitian in New York · Check coverage & book · Self-pay $140
Diabetes dietitian in Oklahoma
Oklahoma keeps Central Time. Oklahoma runs two hours ahead of Dr. Ambily's Pacific practice hours, so a 9:00 a.m. Pacific slot is 11:00 a.m. for you.
Regional plans on my Fay profile in Oklahoma: Blue Cross Blue Shield. Patients book from Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Norman and across the state.
Dietitian in Oklahoma · Check coverage & book · Self-pay $140
Diabetes dietitian in Oregon
Oregon keeps Pacific Time. Oregon shares Dr. Ambily's time zone, so every appointment time you see is the time you keep.
Regional plans on my Fay profile in Oregon: Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield. Patients book from Portland, Salem, Eugene and across the state.
Diabetes dietitian in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania keeps Eastern Time. Pennsylvania runs three hours ahead of Dr. Ambily's Pacific practice hours, so her morning appointments land in your afternoon.
Regional plans on my Fay profile in Pennsylvania: Highmark, Independence Blue Cross. Patients book from Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and across the state.
Dietitian in Pennsylvania · Check coverage & book · Self-pay $140
Diabetes dietitian in Texas
Texas keeps Central Time. Most of Texas runs two hours ahead of Dr. Ambily's Pacific practice hours; El Paso and the far west of the state keep Mountain Time, one hour closer.
Regional plans on my Fay profile in Texas: Blue Cross Blue Shield. Patients book from Houston, San Antonio, Dallas and across the state.
Diabetes dietitian in Virginia
Virginia keeps Eastern Time. Virginia runs three hours ahead of Dr. Ambily's Pacific practice hours, which makes her early slots a midday appointment for you.
Regional plans on my Fay profile in Virginia: Anthem, CareFirst. Patients book from Virginia Beach, Richmond, Norfolk and across the state.
Dietitian in Virginia · Check coverage & book · Self-pay $140
Diabetes dietitian in Washington
Washington keeps Pacific Time. Washington is Dr. Ambily's home state. She practises on Pacific time, and it is the one state where she also sees patients in person — at 1305 Dexter Ave N in Seattle.
Regional plans on my Fay profile in Washington: Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield. Patients book from Seattle, Bellevue, Spokane and across the state.
Dietitian in Washington · Check coverage & book · Self-pay $140
Diabetes dietitian in Wisconsin
Wisconsin keeps Central Time. Wisconsin runs two hours ahead of Dr. Ambily's Pacific practice hours, so a 9:00 a.m. Pacific slot is 11:00 a.m. for you.
Regional plans on my Fay profile in Wisconsin: Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield. Patients book from Milwaukee, Madison, Green Bay and across the state.
Dietitian in Wisconsin · Check coverage & book · Self-pay $140
What patients say
"I started a year back to consult Dr. Ambily Kushal to help me manage my diabetes. She works with you to identify the root causes and then creates an action plan. She is one of the finest nutritionists I have come across. I am a vegetarian and she helped me a lot. Finally my HbA1c came down from above 8 to below 6."
"Just completed my first visit and I'm confident we're going to work well on getting my insulin and weight down. She gave me actionable, clear, simple instructions. Excited to keep working with her!"
Reviews are individual patients' experiences in their own words. Results vary from person to person and are not guaranteed. All 57 written reviews and the dated Fay rating.
Booking, and what it costs
Two routes, and which one is cheaper depends entirely on your plan rather than on which sounds better.
Through insurance. Medical nutrition therapy is a covered benefit on many plans, sometimes with no copay at all. Booking runs through Fay Nutrition, which checks your benefits before the first appointment so you know the number in advance rather than six weeks later.
Self-pay. A flat $140 per session through CognitiveMind — no benefits check, no prior authorization, no denial arriving after the fact. If your coverage is thin, absent, or has a deductible you will not meet this year, this is often the more predictable of the two.
Telehealth, in any of the 18 states where the licence is active.
Common questions
Do I need a referral to see a diabetes dietitian?
Usually not for commercial plans, though some require one, and the coverage check will flag it. Medicare's medical nutrition therapy benefit does require a referral from a physician.
Will a dietitian take me off my diabetes medication?
No. A dietitian does not prescribe, reduce or stop medication. If your numbers improve, your physician may decide to change your treatment, and I work with them so that changes in what you eat and in your medication stay safe together.
Related:
Prediabetes & insulin resistance · GLP-1 nutrition · Reversing metabolic disease · Insurance coverage · All conditions
