Happy National Nutrition Month! 🎉

This year's theme is "Discover the Power of Nutrition" — and it couldn't feel more timely. March has been a big month for me personally, and I'm excited to share some updates with you before we dive in.

A couple of things I want you to know:

First — I'm now licensed to see clients in Georgia! If you or someone you know has been looking for culturally-informed diabetes nutrition support in GA, I'd love to connect.

Second — many of you know I've been heads-down on a major professional project that was originally due back in January. I'm happy to say we are finally wrapping it up. It has taken more of my bandwidth than I expected, and I appreciate your patience. Now I'm looking forward to showing up more consistently for you all.

Okay — now to the good stuff. 👇

📊 This Month's Highlight: The Nutrient Gap Nobody Is Talking About

"Discover the Power of Nutrition." That theme hits different when I think about what I see in my clinical work every day.

One principle I always come back to: food first.

Not because supplements are bad — they absolutely have a place. I always remind my clients with gestational diabetes to take their prenatal vitamins, for example. And honestly, living here in New England where the sun disappears for months, a vitamin D supplement? I do take one! 🙋🏻‍♀️ But food contains a whole ecosystem of nutrients, fiber, and compounds that no pill can fully replicate.

This matters for everyone managing diabetes or weight. But it matters even more right now, given how many people are on incretin-based medications (you may know them by names like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, Trulicity, or Zepbound).

These medications are genuinely effective. And they work in part by reducing appetite — which means eating less, often significantly less. That's the point. But here's what isn't getting enough attention:

When you eat less, you have fewer opportunities to get the nutrients your body needs.

​A scoping review in Obesity Reviews found that across studies, energy intake decreased by 24–39% in people on these medications, lean tissue loss accounted for up to 40% of total weight reduction, and systematic assessment of protein or vitamin and mineral intake was rare. A separate systematic review found that only about 5% of clinical trials on these medications even assessed or reported dietary intake or diet quality — a critical gap the researchers called urgently needing attention.

In other words: the research world is just beginning to catch up to what dietitians have been raising for a while.

💡 Practical Corner: Making Every Bite Count

If you're on one of these medications — or managing your weight and blood sugar through any means — here's what I want you to hold onto:

Your CGM reading, your glucose meter number, your scale — these tell part of your story. They don't tell you whether you're getting enough vitamins and minerals, enough protein to protect your muscle, enough of the things that only come from food.

Taking a supplement is a helpful safety net. But there are nutrients you can only get from food, in the forms your body uses best. The goal isn't just a lower number — it's a body that is truly nourished.

This is exactly why working with a dietitian matters more, not less, when you're eating less. It's not about restriction — it's about strategy. How do we make sure that every bite is carrying as much nutritional weight as possible? That's what I help people figure out.

✅ One Actionable Takeaway

This month, I want to challenge you to ask yourself one question before each meal:

"What nutrients am I getting from this?"

Not as a source of stress — but as a moment of curiosity. What protein is here? What vegetables? What vitamins and minerals? You don't need to count or track obsessively. Just start noticing. Awareness is the first step.

And if you find yourself not sure what is what — that's okay too! Send me an email and we can chat more. 😊

📅 Coming Up

Now that the big project is wrapping up, I'm looking forward to sharing more — more content, more resources, more of what I've been sitting on. Stay tuned. 🙂

🤝 Ready to Work Together?

If you're managing diabetes or weight and want to make sure your nutrition is truly working for you — not just your numbers — I'd love to help. I accept insurance and see clients virtually and in person in Massachusetts.

👉 Fill out my intake form here and we'll go from there.

✉️ Find this newsletter helpful? Forward it to a friend who might benefit too!

📚 New to our newsletter? Catch up on previous issues and explore our archive here.

👋 About Karen

I'm Karen Lau, a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist with over 15 years of clinical experience at a major medical institution, helping Asian Americans manage diabetes while honoring their cultural traditions. I work with clients virtually and in person in Massachusetts, and I do accept insurance. Ready to get started? Fill out my intake form here and we'll take it from there.

Note: This content is for general knowledge and educational purposes only, not medical advice. While this guide follows current medical guidelines, always consult your healthcare team for personalized recommendations and advice specific to your situation. This newsletter was authored by me, with my professional expertise, clinical experience, and original ideas forming the foundation of the content. Claude, an AI assistant from Anthropic, helped organize and expand my thoughts into this comprehensive newsletter while maintaining my voice and professional perspective.​

To your health—body, mind, and heritage,

Karen​
​Diabetes Dietitian & Diabetes Care Specialist (RDN, CDCES)
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