#81 - Diabetes Myth Busting with Esther Tambe

This week, we’re talking to Esther Tambe, MS, RDN, CDN, CDCES (she/her) about the mainstream myths about diabetes & what a weight inclusive approach to diabetes looks like!

Esther Tambe is a New York-based weight-inclusive Registered Dietitian passionate about helping women recover from eating disorders and disordered eating. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition from Long Island University and another in Health Science-Public Health from Stony Brook University. She also has a Master’s degree in Nutrition from Long Island University.

Esther is committed to increasing awareness of eating disorders/disordered eating in Black communities, which are often overlooked or misdiagnosed. She strongly believes culturally appropriate nutrition care is essential for the Black community.

In addition to providing nutrition counseling for eating disorders, Esther is a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist who helps clients manage diabetes from a weight-inclusive lens. Before opening her private practice, Esther worked in underserved communities providing nutrition education and counseling to individuals with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and HIV/AIDS. Now, she blends her passion for eating disorders with her clinical background to help clients heal their relationships with food while managing other health conditions.

As a weight-inclusive provider, Esther believes women of all body shapes and sizes deserve respect and high-quality care. She provides individualized nutrition care for all her clients, regardless of their body shape or size, that centers on health-promoting behaviors rather than weight.

You can find Esther traveling around the world, taking Zumba classes, and spending time with her family outside of work. She is also the co-founder of Fight Through Flights Inc., a non-profit organization that aims to empower and support the healing of Black women living with breast cancer and breast cancer survivors through wellness experiences and travel.

We had an awesome conversation with Esther about...

• what diabetes is, and some common misconceptions about its causes
• how to navigate a diabetes diagnosis, and what the deal is with prediabetes
• the truth about the relationship between diabetes, body weight, sugar, and carbs
• what factors have a bigger impact on blood sugar levels than body weight or diet
• what to know about diabetes medications, including drugs like Ozempic
• how to approach diabetes care from a weight-neutral lens
• and so much more!

You can connect with Esther and learn how to work with her on Instagram @et.the.rd, or at her website, EstherTambeNutrition.com!

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And here's where you can continue to find us:
Sadie Simpson: www.sadiesimpson.com or IG @sadiemsimpson
Naomi Katz: www.happyshapes.co or IG @happyshapesnaomi