In this section
Nutrition and Cystic Fibrosis
Nutrition plays a vital role in the health and well-being of people CF. Maintaining a healthy nutritional status is essential for maximising lung function, supporting exercise capacity, and promoting long-term health.
Expert Dietetic Support at MACFC
At the MACFC, our team of seven dietitians, provides expert advice and support across all aspects of nutritional care, including:
- Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy
- Supplementary nutritional support
- Fat-soluble vitamin therapy
- Calcium and bone health
- Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes
- Bowel health
- Healthy eating and weight management
Comprehensive Dietetic Support for Patients
Inpatient care
During hospital stays, our dietitians work closely with you on Pearce Ward. We collaborate with the catering team to create bespoke meals from our gold-standard kitchen, ensuring your individual dietary needs are met throughout your admission.
Outpatient care
We provide dietetic support across all outpatient clinics and are available at every clinic to offer personalised dietary advice.
Flexible advice between appointments
We also offer additional support between clinics to help you manage your nutrition or diabetes day to day.
Dedicated education sessions
We run a virtual dietetic education clinic on Tuesday afternoons, offering in-depth dietary advice in a dedicated session, giving time to focus on the nutritional management of CF.
Home tube feeding
If you require tube feeding, we offer tailored advice and ongoing support to help you manage this safely and effectively at home
CF-related diabetes
Our dietitians are an integral part of the CF-related diabetes multidisciplinary team, attending all CF clinics alongside diabetes specialist nurses and consultants. We also run dedicated virtual clinics to provide in-depth dietary education outside the MDT setting.
Dietetic Innovation and Research
In 2024, we introduced a Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis machine in our outpatient department. This technology measures body composition, enabling us to offer personalised advice on improving muscle mass and optimising health outcomes.
Our dietitians also actively participate in research to address evolving nutritional challenges in CF. We are committed to advancing knowledge and ensuring our care reflects the latest evidence and innovations.
A Centre for Dietetic Learning
As a teaching hospital, we host student dietitians throughout the year. By fostering the next generation of professionals, we ensure our patients benefit from fresh perspectives and cutting-edge practices.