Do I need a medical referral?

For coverage by basic insurance, yes — it requires a medical referral and a recognised diagnosis. You can also attend counselling without a referral, but you will then usually bear the costs yourself or through supplementary insurance.

Do I have to give up everything I enjoy eating?

No. Good nutritional counselling does not work with lists of forbidden foods, but seeks a way with you that combines enjoyment and health. Changes you don't like tend not to last long anyway.

How many sessions are typical?

Often a few appointments over several weeks to months are sufficient: one detailed initial consultation and several shorter follow-up appointments for adjustment. The number depends on the question and progress.

What does nutritional counselling cost?

With a medical referral and recognised diagnosis, the dietitian usually bills through basic insurance; you pay the Franchise and co-payment. Without a referral, the rates of the respective professional apply — ask in advance.

What is the difference from a nutrition coach?

‹Nutritional counsellor› with a recognised university of applied sciences degree or equivalent qualification is a protected health professional who can bill through basic insurance. Coaching titles are not uniformly regulated — for medical questions, look for recognised qualifications.

Nutritional Counselling — Procedure, Preparation & Cost

In nutritional counselling, you work with a qualified professional to develop a diet that suits your health and your daily life. It's not about rigid meal plans, but about practical steps — tailored to your condition, your preferences and your life situation. It is usually based on a medical referral with a specific question.

Typical Areas of Use

Diabetes and its precursor stages
Overweight or unintentional weight loss
Elevated blood lipids and cardiovascular risks
Gastrointestinal complaints such as irritable bowel syndrome
Food intolerances and allergies
Malnutrition in old age or due to illness

How It Works

1In the initial consultation, the dietitian discusses your medical history, your eating habits and your daily routine — a food diary over a few days is often helpful.
2Together you set realistic goals, such as more stable blood sugar levels, fewer symptoms after eating, or gradual weight change.
3You receive specific recommendations tailored to you — from shopping to cooking to eating out — rather than general lists of forbidden foods.
4Follow-up appointments review what is working and adjust the plan; small, sustainable steps count more than radical changes.
5If necessary, the dietitian informs your doctor about progress, so that the treatment fits together as a whole.

How to Prepare

If requested, keep a food diary for three to seven days before the first appointment.
Bring the medical referral, current laboratory results and your medication list with you.
Consider which habits you would like to change — and which ones are important to you and should remain.

Side Effects & Risks

The counselling itself is risk-free; the real challenge is keeping it up in daily life.
Overly ambitious changes can be frustrating — reputable counselling therefore focuses on gradual, sustainable changes.
For significant dietary changes, such as in diabetes with medication, coordination with your doctor is necessary so that therapy can be adjusted.

Afterwards — and When to Seek Help

Between appointments, you implement the steps discussed and note what works well and where difficulties arise — this is precisely what leads to the next step. Setbacks are part of the process and do not represent failure. Contact your doctor if you continue to lose weight unintentionally, new symptoms occur after eating, or if your blood sugar levels deteriorate significantly despite changes in the case of diabetes.

Cost & Insurance

Nutritional counselling by recognised dieticians is a benefit of the basic insurance for certain conditions — such as diabetes, significant overweight, cardiovascular diseases or malnutrition — provided it is prescribed by a doctor; a limited number of sessions is covered per prescription, and follow-up prescriptions are possible. Franchise and co-payment apply as usual. For counselling without a medical diagnosis, for example purely preventive, some insurers contribute through supplementary insurance. If in doubt, ask your insurer — this information is for guidance only, without guarantee.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a medical referral?: For coverage by basic insurance, yes — it requires a medical referral and a recognised diagnosis. You can also attend counselling without a referral, but you will then usually bear the costs yourself or through supplementary insurance.
Do I have to give up everything I enjoy eating?: No. Good nutritional counselling does not work with lists of forbidden foods, but seeks a way with you that combines enjoyment and health. Changes you don't like tend not to last long anyway.
How many sessions are typical?: Often a few appointments over several weeks to months are sufficient: one detailed initial consultation and several shorter follow-up appointments for adjustment. The number depends on the question and progress.
What does nutritional counselling cost?: With a medical referral and recognised diagnosis, the dietitian usually bills through basic insurance; you pay the Franchise and co-payment. Without a referral, the rates of the respective professional apply — ask in advance.
What is the difference from a nutrition coach?: ‹Nutritional counsellor› with a recognised university of applied sciences degree or equivalent qualification is a protected health professional who can bill through basic insurance. Coaching titles are not uniformly regulated — for medical questions, look for recognised qualifications.