On our inaugural show we chat with, Lyndi Wieand, Weis Markets In-Store Registered Dietitian about her role in DSMES. Diet is a significant portion of diabetes management that is unfortunately sometimes overlooked. An article recently published in 2018, Diabetes and Diet: A Patient and Dietitian's Perspective, discusses the challenges that Type 2 Diabetes patients face when trying to lose weight, especially while taking insulin therapy. The dietitian plays a vital role in the management of carbohydrate awareness while concurrently minimizing the risk of hypoglycemia. Because of this, utilizing the dietitian in DSMES classes can have a positive impact on patients' health.  

Isabelle Litvak, PharmD & Rachel Hay, PharmD are the new hosts of season 2 of Beyond the Sig for the DSMES Podcast Series powered by the Pennsylvania Pharmacists Association. The podcast’s goal is to bring awareness to Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support and how individuals like you play a role in educating both patients and health care practitioners. 

Today we discussed the DSMES classes from the dietitian's perspective. We hear about Lyndi's DSMES successes, challenges, and personal stories overcoming patient barriers during her three-year experience.

Reference Articles: 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6167292/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7605030/

Today's guest is Lyndi Wieand, MHSc, RDN, LDN. Lyndi graduated from the University of Vermont in 2016 with a B.S. in Dietetics, Nutrition and Food Science, then completed her Dietetic Internship at Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA in 2018. She passed her Registered Dietitian credentialing exam in June 2018 and was hired at Weis Markets as an In-Store Registered Dietitian in August of that year.

Lyndi covers the Lehigh Valley regional area, but primarily work in the Allentown and Schnecksville stores. In May 2021, she  graduated with her Master of Health Sciences degree from Cedar Crest College and volunteers as a preceptor for the Cedar Crest Dietetic Internship, volunteer with the Bethlehem YWCA Diabetes Coalition, and is a Certified Group Lifestyle Balance Coach for the Diabetes Prevention Program. Lyndi also serves as the President of the Lehigh Valley Dietetic Association.

Lyndi Wieand, MHSc, RDN, LDN

Lehigh Valley In-Store Dietitian

Weis Markets, Inc.

Our hosts: 

Dr. Isabelle Litvak, PharmD is a 2021 graduate from St. John's University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Dr. Litvak is currently pursuing a PGY-1 Community-Based Pharmacy Residency with Weis Markets and Wilkes University Nesbitt School of Pharmacy where she participates in collaborative care in both the community and ambulatory care setting, caring for patients with chronic diseases like diabetes.

Dr. Rachel Hay PharmD is a PGY-1 community pharmacy resident at Duquesne University and the Center for Pharmacy Care. She is a recent 2021 PharmD graduate from the University of Michigan. Rachel is passionate about diabetes management and education, especially in underserved populations.