Outpatient Diabetes & Nutrition Education Clinic

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Outpatient Diabetes & Nutrition Education Clinic

Managing diabetes can be difficult. Diet is the most important factor in any diabetes treatment plan, but ongoing medical care and lifestyle changes also are needed in most cases. To help, UAB Medicine operates an Outpatient Diabetes & Nutrition Education Clinic for people with diabetes and related conditions.

Offered at The Kirklin Clinic of UAB Hospital and at the Whitaker Clinic of UAB Hospital, our clinic is staffed by registered and licensed dietitians and certified diabetes care and education specialists. It offers interactive group classes as well as individual appointments. Education and instruction on insulin administration, using an insulin pump, and continuous glucose meters also are available. We provide services for patients age 18 and up. Interpreters are available for those who do not speak English.

In addition to helping with diabetes, we can educate and assist you in managing a variety of other conditions and medical issues, including:

Chronic kidney disease
Obesity/overweight
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Hyperlipidemia/high cholesterol
Gastrointestinal disorders, including Crohn’s disease, colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
Celiac disease
Weight management (gaining or losing)
Assistance with tube feeding or IV nutrition
Nutrition evaluations to improve health
Neurological conditions, including Huntington’s disease

The UAB Outpatient Diabetes & Nutrition Education Clinic meets standards set by the American Diabetes Association for the Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) program, which uses proven methods to provide a total management plan for patients with diabetes. The DSMES program is a comprehensive educational resource, offering essential instruction about diet, nutrition, medication, and monitoring glucose levels, as well as guidance on lifestyle changes that can affect how patients manage their condition. Participants also learn how to cope with changes in living arrangements, new doctors or insurance plans, depression, financial problems, and being diagnosed with other medical conditions. Classes are structured for convenience and ease of access.

Appointments and Referrals

Please ask your medical provider for a referral to the Outpatient Diabetes & Nutrition Education Clinic, and we will contact you to set up an appointment. You also may contact us directly, and we can contact your medical provider for a referral. Our services do require a referral from a medical provider.

For medical providers outside of UAB Medicine, please contact us at 205-801-8711 to get details on how to refer your patients to our clinic for diabetes and nutrition education. Most insurance plans are accepted, along with Medicare. Our billing department will bill your insurance provider for the visit.

MEET OUR PROVIDERS

Mariah Stewart, MS, RDN, LD, CDCES

Mariah Cloud Stewart, MS, RDN, LD, CDCES, has been a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) for over 10 years and a certified diabetes care and education specialist for three years. She received a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from Auburn University and a Master of Science in Nutrition from UAB.

Stewart educates patients on healthy lifestyles and nutrition related to several different health conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and digestive disorders. As the RDN for UAB Medicine’s Gastrointestinal Clinic, she helps patients manage bowel disorders such as celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and eosinophilic esophagitis. She is trained in helping people with diabetes use insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors. Mariah also works with the UAB Medicine organ transplantation team to provide nutrition evaluations for liver, lung, and heart transplant candidates.

Stewart is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists.

Alison Wharton, MPH, RDN, LD, CDE

Alison Wharton, MPH, RDN, LD, CDE, has been employed as a certified diabetes educator and registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) in Alabama for over 20 years. She completed her post-graduate training with a master’s degree in Public Health Nutrition from the UAB School of Public Health.

Wharton specializes in diabetes care and support and has a special interest in helping patients with and without insurance maximize their benefits and lower their out-of-pocket diabetes-related expenses. She trains on the Medtronic and Tandem insulin pumps, as well as the DexCom and Freestyle Libre continuous glucose monitor devices. She also provides medical nutrition therapy for patients with pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease and other conditions. Wharton works with the UAB Medicine organ transplantation team to provide nutrition evaluations for liver, lung, heart, and uterus transplant candidates.

Wharton is member of the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists and over several decades has held various officer positions with the association’s local chapter, including serving as president twice. She also maintains an active membership in the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and is a member of the academy’s Diabetes Care and Education Dietetic Practice Group.