Endocrine Specialists of Athens
Phone & Address
2470 Daniells Bridge Rd
Bldg 200 Ste 221
Athens, GA 30606
Hours
Appointments & Patient Information
All visits are by appointment only, ensuring personalized care. While we strive to keep on schedule, emergencies may occasionally cause delays. If you need to reschedule or cancel, please notify us as early as possible.
- New patients should arrive 30 minutes early to complete registration.
- If your insurance plan requires a referral, please obtain approval before your appointment.
- To ensure we have the most up-to-date information, kindly inform us of any changes to your name, address, phone number, or insurance details.
Expert Endocrinology Care at Endocrine Specialist of Athens
At Endocrine Specialist of Athens, we are dedicated to providing top-tier endocrinology and diabetes care to patients in Athens, GA, and the surrounding areas, including Oconee County, Clarke County, Watkinsville, Bogart, and Winterville. Our team partners with you and your healthcare providers to deliver comprehensive endocrine treatment for a wide range of conditions, including thyroid disorders, diabetes management, hormone imbalances, osteoporosis, and adrenal and pituitary disorders.
Services Offered at Endocrine Specialists of Athens
- Diabetes and related complications
- Diseases of thyroid dysfunction: hyper and hypothyroidism
- Thyroid nodules
- Thyroid cancer
- Diseases of the pituitary: adenoma evaluation and management of states of hormonal excess or deficiency
- Diseases of the parathyroid glands (hyper/hypocalcemia)
- Diseases of the adrenal glands, including nodules, and hyper-and hypofunctioning states (Cushing's syndrome, adrenal insufficiency)
- Osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease
Personalized Nutrition Counseling for Diabetes & Endocrine Health in Athens, GA
At St. Mary’s Endocrine Specialists in Athens, our Registered Dietitian provides compassionate, one-on-one nutrition counseling rooted in evidence-based care. We work closely with your healthcare provider to create a personalized plan that supports your overall health, helping you better manage diabetes and other endocrine-related conditions.
Whether you’re newly diagnosed or looking to improve long-term health outcomes, our nutrition services are designed to meet you where you are and guide you toward sustainable, healthy habits.
Our team offers comprehensive diabetes education to help you feel confident managing your condition day to day. Services include:
- Blood glucose management support for all types of diabetes
- Carbohydrate education, including carb counting and insulin-to-carb ratios
- Guidance on meal timing to support stable blood sugar levels
- Understanding how food impacts glucose control
- Prevention and management of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia
Nutrition strategies tailored to oral medications, injectable therapies, and insulin
We believe nutrition should feel approachable and realistic. Our dietitian provides practical tools and guidance, including:
- How to read and understand nutrition labels
- Portion control strategies for balanced eating
- Building healthy, sustainable eating habits that fit your lifestyle
Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight can play an important role in managing endocrine conditions. We offer personalized education for:
- Safe and effective weight loss
- Healthy weight gain when medically necessary
- Long-term lifestyle strategies to support lasting results
For patients using insulin pumps, we provide specialized nutrition support to help you get the most out of your technology. Services include:
- Training on select insulin pump systems
- Nutrition-based strategies to optimize insulin pump performance
- Ongoing support to fine-tune your approach as your needs evolve
Take the Next Step Toward Better Health
If you’re living with diabetes or another endocrine condition, you don’t have to navigate nutrition alone. Our team is here to support you with personalized care and guidance every step of the way.
Schedule an appointment today to connect with our Registered Dietitian and start building a plan that works for you.
Julia Bailey, RD
Collaboration With Other Experts
We take pride in having the ability to collaborate with other area experts as we assist in your care. An essential member of your team is your primary care provider. We ask that all patients have a recent visit with their primary care physicians within 4-6 months of our visits. Referrals are required for initial visits. There may be times or circumstances that cause you to seek hospital care. We hope to guide and keep you on a path of health and wellness.
We devote our time to outpatient medicine and utilize the services of area Hospitalists, providing care during any hospitalization.
Additional Resources
Newly Diagnosed Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes Overview
Hyperthyroidism
Diabetes Education Meeting
The Outpatient Diabetes Education meeting is on the first Tuesday of every month from 3 to 4 p.m. The goal of this meeting is to provide patients with the best information about diabetes. It is hosted by a registered RN who specializes in diabetes, and it lasts for an hour. If you are interested, please email Cheryl Elder at cheryl.elder@stmarysathens.org to register. This meeting is currently held via Zoom but will eventually go back to in-person.
Frequently Asked Questions about Diabetes
Your blood glucose readings will greatly assist in evaluating how well your current diabetes treatment plan is working. Regular blood sugar monitoring can help assess what part of your diet, physical activity, or medication needs might need to be changed.
Since every patient has an individual treatment plan, it is best to consult your physician about the best testing times for you.
This is also based on the individual and what treatment plan has been dictated by your physician. All testing supplies such as lancets and strips require a prescription.
All of the meters recommended by our office have been FDA-approved. However, all meters have a variance of up to 20%. It is best to replace your meter every 3-5 years and keep tabs on the expiration date of your test strips. If your test strips are expired, there is a much higher chance of obtaining an inaccurate reading.
It means that you have a blood sugar of less than 70 mg/dL which can be very serious if left untreated.
Symptoms can include trembling, rapid heartbeat, inability to focus, perspiring, feeling weak or excessive irritability.
You may ingest 4 ounces of juice, 4 ounces of regular soda, or 4 glucose tablets and wait 15 minutes. At that time, go ahead and check your blood sugar again to see if it has risen back to a normal level.
No, it is not. It’s very fatty and therefore slows down the process of your body’s absorption of carbohydrates. Hypoglycemia is serious and needs to be addressed immediately.
Yes, in fact, it may be life threatening. Non-treatment of hypoglycemia has been known to cause unconsciousness, coma, and in some cases, death.
Not at all. The goal for any diabetic is to maintain normal glucose levels. Insulin is often used along with a healthy diet and exercise to support normal blood sugars.
Insulin can be administered in a few different ways. While the syringe is common, it can also be given through a pen or an insulin pump.
There is no question that Carbohydrate-rich foods like bread, pasta, potatoes, fruit and fruit juice, rice, and desserts will cause blood sugars to rise. Carbs can also be found in many fluids like regular soda, sweet teas, sports drink,s and alcohol.
You may still have carbs but in limited quantities. Our dietitian can help you customize a meal plan that regulates your carbohydrate intake.
You may drink diet soda but it’s not a healthy option. It’s always best to reach for water when you are thirsty.
Your dietitian can help you determine how much fruit should be included in your daily eating habits. Fruit has its fair share of carbs that must be accounted for in order to regulate your blood glucose.
Just because a food is labeled “sugar-free” does not mean it is free of carbohydrates. These foods should be eaten in limited quantities.
Endocrine Specialists of Athens accepts most forms of insurance.
For a full list of what insurance providers we accept, please visit our accepted insurance page.
