Diabetes Specialist
Cullman Internal Medicine
Internal Medicine & Acupuncture located in Cullman, AL
Long-term management of your diabetes is important to help protect your lifelong health and your best quality of life. The medical team at Cullman Internal Medicine of Cullman, Alabama, is proud to be recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for their diabetic program. The team is committed to helping you live your best life with diabetes. For personalized diabetic care, call the office or book an appointment online today.
Diabetes Q & A
Cullman Diabetes Center
Phone: 256-737-8038
Fax: 256-737-8006
Email:
Address: 1890 Alabama Hwy 157 Suite 300 Cullman, AL 35058
The Cullman Diabetes Center exists to empower individuals living with diabetes to lead a full, healthy life, uninhibited by the stresses and complications of the condition. Through personalized education and support, patients are equipped with the tools and knowledge needed to manage their diabetes effectively, improve their well-being, and enhance their overall quality of life.
Meet the Providers:
Medical Director:
Adam Harrison, DO
DSMES Team:
Kim Addison, RD, CDCES
Nikki Hooker, LPN, CPT
Support Staff:
Leigh Ann Bell, CMA,
Why DSMES?
The purpose of Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) is to give people with diabetes and prediabetes the knowledge, skills, and confidence to accept responsibility for their diabetes care. This includes collaborating with their healthcare team, making informed decisions, solving problems, developing personal goals and action plans, and coping with emotions and life stresses.
Multiple studies show that DSMES is effective in producing positive clinical and psychosocial outcomes. Additionally, it is proven that group education is effective, and that patient participation and collaboration appear to produce more favorable results than didactic presentations. Programs that incorporate the behavioral and emotional aspects of diabetes with the clinical content result in better outcomes. The impact of psychosocial and emotional concerns on self-management behaviors and the need for ongoing diabetes self-management education and support to sustain the gains made during the initial education process and service is crucial.
DSMES is a lifelong process. It can be emotional, behavioral, educational, or clinical. Both education and support need to be incorporated throughout the entire DSMES service and continuing care. Effective DSMES is patient-centered and designed to help participants address the more complex and difficult tasks of managing diabetes in the context of their real lives, which often are filled with other stresses and competing demands.
Our Approach:
Our evidence-based curriculum, Life with Diabetes is distributed and recognized by the American Diabetes Association. It addresses the following key patient education topics including:
- Managing Blood Glucose
- Healthy Coping
- Meal Planning
- Physical Activity
- Medications
- Complications
This program allows clinicians to assess each patient's individual needs and confidence level, creating a customized care plan. We offer patients the support, education, and coaching necessary to develop skills for managing their blood glucose levels and minimizing the risk of both short- and long-term complications. Additionally, we provide resources and tools to help patients make easy changes that contribute to improved overall health and well-being.
Cullman Diabetes Center has been recognized by the American Diabetes Association for quality Diabetes Self-Management Education* and Support (DSMES).
What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a chronic disorder of the endocrine system. This serious condition of metabolism affects nearly 10% of the American population and around 25% of seniors over 65.
Diabetes occurs due to inadequate production of insulin or a problem with using the insulin that’s available. Insulin, a hormone which is produced by the pancreas, is necessary to properly distribute and utilize glucose, which is the primary energy source for every system of the body.
When insulin is not produced at the rate required by the body, glucose builds up in the bloodstream. This causes an uncontrolled elevation of your blood sugar. Consistently elevated blood sugar has devastating effects on the body.
Uncontrolled diabetes can be a contributing factor to other health concerns, such as:
- Stroke
- Heart disease
- Coronary artery disease
- Kidney disease
- Impaired wound healing
- Retinopathy
- Dementia
Proper management of diabetes is essential to avoid or diminish your risks for these and other serious health problems.
What are Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes?
There are two main types of diabetes. These types are dependent on the way degree to which your body naturally produces insulin:
- Type 1: Body does not produce any insulin
- Type 2: Body produces a small amount of insulin and doesn’t use insulin properly
Depending on the type of diabetes you have, a combination of diet, oral medications, and injected insulin is required to manage your blood sugar and prevent long-term complications.
What are symptoms of diabetes?
Symptoms of the uncontrolled blood sugar of diabetes may include:
- Excessive hunger or thirst
- Frequent urination
- Frequent infections or slow-healing wounds
- Blurry vision
- Fatigue or generalized weakness
- Irritability
If you think you may have diabetes, it’s important to get your blood glucose levels checked.
What does long-term diabetic care look like?
Cullman Internal Medicine is proud that all of their physicians are part of the NCQA Diabetes Recognition Program. In order to have this honor, diabetes management plans must include:
- Hemoglobin A1C (long-term) blood sugar monitoring
- Blood pressure monitoring
- Regular eye examinations
- Neuropathy assessments
- Foot examinations
- Smoking and tobacco cessation counseling
Your diabetic management plan also includes nutrition counseling, skin monitoring education, blood sugar monitoring education, insulin pump management, and exercise counseling. Together, you and your medical team can ensure the best possible long-term outcome for your diabetes.
For a consultation and personalized diabetic management plan, call the office or book an appointment with Cullman Internal Medicine today.