UAB experts explain what a Certified Diabetes and Education Specialist is and how it can benefit people with diabetes.
Author: Katherine Kirk
Media Contact: Hannah Echols
UAB experts explain what a Certified Diabetes and Education Specialist is and how it can benefit people with diabetes.Diabetes is a complex disease that can affect many systems in the body and often requires individualized care for each patient. It is generally best managed by the entire care team, including an endocrinologist, nephrologist, and optometrist.
Diabetes can be overwhelming because of its complexity. Patients should see their doctors, learn about technology options, and plan nutritious meals. It may seem like too much for one person, even without considering other life factors. This is where diabetes educators can intervene.
Mariah Stewart, Supervisor UAB Medicine Diabetes/nutrition education outpatient clinicCertified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist.
CDCES are medical professionals who are specially trained to help people with diabetes, she explains. To become a CDCES, you must complete 1,000 hours of training and pass a board exam. CDCES professionals educate patients about nutrition, blood sugar monitoring, exercise, stress management, and prevention of complications.
“CDCES provides much more to patients than an educational flyer,” Stewart says. “Patients receive ongoing support and resources to make the difficult lifestyle changes necessary to control their diabetes.”
Mariah Stewart, RDN, explains that Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists are specially trained to help people with diabetes.
Photo: Jennifer Alsabrook TurnerAdvanced CDCES are trained in continuous glucose monitoring and insulin pumps, can teach patients how to use these devices, and can interpret the data for treatment recommendations.
CDCES often works with primary care providers and endocrinologists, but primary care providers oversee general medical care, whereas CDCES focuses on diabetes management.
Endocrinologists treat diabetes more specifically as a hormone-related disease and handle more complex cases. Both refer patients to CDCES, who can assist with individualized meal planning, refer you to other specialists, and ask questions about diabetes technology options.
UAB Internal Medicine Outpatient/Diabetes/Nutritional Education Clinic kirklin clinic It is comprised of a team of registered dietitians and certified diabetes care and education experts at UAB Hospital.
The clinic offers an American Diabetes Association-accredited diabetes self-management education and support program covering nutrition, blood glucose monitoring, exercise, stress management, and complication prevention.
Registered dietitian nutritionists also provide nutritional guidance for prediabetes, chronic kidney disease, hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disease, obesity, and tube feeding management.
“This clinic empowers patients by providing comprehensive diabetes education, medication management recommendations, continuous blood glucose monitoring, and insulin pump training for patients who require more advanced insulin therapy. We can also provide that,” Stewart said.
To schedule an appointment at the UAB Internal Medicine Outpatient Diabetes and Nutrition Education Clinic, patients can request a referral from their healthcare provider. UAB patients can also call the clinic directly at 205-801-8711.
