To keep pace with the changing health care industry, dietitians will need to take a proactive approach, identifying and carving out their own niche within their particular setting. Traditionally, dietitians have worked in inpatient hospital settings--screening, assessing, developing care plans and providing nutrition counseling. Recognizing the shift towards outpatient care, the dietitian in this setting seized an opportunity to expand her scope of services beyond the boundaries of the traditional role. A diabetic foot clinic was established in which the dietitian developed a treatment protocol, utilizing a team approach, for screening patients at risk for developing foot ulcers. The dietitian began with non-invasive tasks which, in addition to being non-threatening, were actually an asset to the primary care physician. The dietitian also educates patients on the use of glucometers and monitors their progress in achieving and maintaining glycemic control. These tasks should not be considered the sole purview of the nurse. Objective results and positive outcomes must be demonstrated. In this setting, diabetic patients showed significant improvement in glycemic control.