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, the Whitaker Clinic of UAB Hospital, and the UAB Medicine Clinics at UAB Medical West, 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.

Abigail Manasco, RDN, LD, CDCES

Manasco has been a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) in Alabama for five years and has experience in a variety of settings including outpatient, inpatient, long-term care and worksite wellness. She received a Bachelor of Science in food and nutrition from the University of Alabama.

Manasco enjoys helping patients find creative ways to manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and chronic kidney disease through nutrition. She is experienced in helping people with diabetes use insulin pumps and continuous glucose monitors. Manasco works with the UAB Medicine organ transplantation team to provide nutrition evaluations for liver, lung, and heart transplant candidates. She serves on the Huntington’s disease interdisciplinary team and is part of the chronic kidney disease management class at UAB.

Outside of work, Manasco enjoys fitness and personal training. In her spare time, she enjoys going on long walks with Oakley – her King Charles Cavalier – and attending Alabama football games. She is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists.

Michelle Spitzer, MS, RDN, LD

Spitzer is a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) and Birmingham native. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a Master of Science in nutrition sciences from UAB. She’s a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Spitzer is passionate about the power of nutrition in overall health and well-being and its role in various disease states. She counsels patients on strategic changes to nutrition and lifestyle factors to achieve better health and clinical outcomes. Spitzer uses her background in psychology to meet patients where they are and help them overcome obstacles to reaching their goals.

Spitzer works with the organ transplantation team to provide nutrition evaluations for patients awaiting liver, lung, and heart transplants. She also has a passion for patients with diabetes and is trained in teaching them how to use glucometers, insulin pumps, and continuous glucose monitors.

Claire Richardson, MS, RDN, LD

Richardson is a registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) with over three years of clinical experience specializing in pediatric and endocrine nutrition. She began her career at Children’s of Alabama, where she worked in pulmonary, complex care, and endocrine services, building a strong foundation in multi-specialty patient care. Richardson currently serves as a diabetes educator at UAB Medicine and plans to sit for her certification exam soon.

In addition to her clinical work, Richardson is a part-time fitness instructor with a passion for practical, lifestyle-focused wellness. She earned her undergraduate and master’s degrees from UAB and has lived in the Birmingham area for nearly a decade.