Diabetes education and wellness support is an important service that UAB St. Vincent’s provides to help patients manage their high blood sugar. It was only offered to inpatients at first, but it was expanded as it became clear that patients saw better long-term results when they helped manage their diabetes at home.
These services have grown significantly over time and today are provided through our Outpatient Diabetes Education Center, which has been recognized by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) since 1995. It is led by a registered nurse and a registered dietitian, each of whom holds the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) designation. Their ADA-backed diabetes curriculum is based on the latest research, and they also provide a range of other services in support of health and wellness goals.
Our growth has allowed us to extend our services to patients across central Alabama, providing both in-person and virtual education. As part of our commitment to serving low-income and underserved populations, we reach out to the community through health fairs, senior programs, and collaboration with primary care centers, to spread awareness about diabetes and help people get the care they need. Also, our pharmacy medication advocate works with patients to secure essential medications and testing supplies.
Encouraging exercise
For many of our patients, staying physically active is a major challenge. So, our diabetes educators encourage movement by recommending things such as wearable fitness devices, Medicare’s SilverSneakers health and fitness program, online exercise content, and home exercise equipment.
To further support exercise, we partnered with the UAB Medicine St. Vincent’s One Nineteen wellness and fitness center to offer Beyond Diabetes. This structured exercise program provides a safe, supportive environment with expert guidance. It can help patients better manage their diabetes while building confidence and independence in their health journey.
Our CDCES educators also work closely with the dietitians at UAB Medicine St. Vincent’s One Nineteen, to help ensure that patients receive the most appropriate diabetes care and maximum insurance coverage. They match them with services that best meet their individual needs and assist with referrals to other specialists, if needed.
As part of our women’s services, our educators support patients with gestational diabetes during their pregnancy by following blood glucose numbers, supporting nutrition education, reporting to MD as needed and instruction on insulin or blood glucose monitoring if needed.
UAB St. Vincent’s is committed to providing high-quality diabetes education and wellness services to our diverse patient population, to help them improve their quality of life and enjoy more of it. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 205-939-7248. A referral is required and may be faxed to 205-930-2931.