Meet The Team Tackling Diabetes In Iron County

The Diabetes and Endocrine Clinic at Intermountain Health in Cedar City is working to expand understanding of diabetes while offering specialized care to patients across Iron County. During a recent appearance on the Big Picture Morning Show on KSUB radio, Practice Manager and Registered Nurse Harmony Rosenberg discussed the clinic’s work, the nature of diabetes, and the ongoing need for awareness.

Rosenberg explained that the clinic focuses on managing disorders within the endocrine system, noting on the broadcast that “endocrine is just a system in the body that deals with many of your different hormones, diabetes, including one of those.” She added that the clinic also addresses thyroid, adrenal, and parathyroid issues, though diabetes remains the primary focus.

A significant part of her interview centered on helping listeners understand the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. She said, “There are two main types of diabetes,” and clarified that type 1 is an autoimmune disease in which the body stops producing insulin, while type 2 involves insulin resistance or deficiency. Some cases can be surprising, as Rosenberg noted, “I had a patient once that was diagnosed in his 90s with type 1 diabetes.”

November marks Diabetes Awareness Month, and Rosenberg emphasized the importance of accurate information. She told the audience, “Being overweight, being sedentary, eating crappy is not always an indicator for developing diabetes,” highlighting the role of genetics in both types of the disease.

Iron County Diabetes Rates Below State and National Averages

Rosenberg also offered a look at how Iron County compares to state and global trends. After consulting with statewide epidemiology experts, she shared that “Iron County was at a 6% diabetes prevalence rate in comparison to 9% with the state of Utah.” She added that worldwide, “one in 10 adults” have diabetes.

The Cedar City clinic provides comprehensive diabetes management, a major step forward from when Rosenberg served as the community’s sole diabetes educator. “About 2 1/2 years ago, we opened this clinic,” she said, describing the addition of nurse practitioner Garrett Galt and a team of educators, nurses, and a dietitian who work collaboratively to support patients.

Read More: How Nurses In Iron County School Help Students

Symptoms that may signal diabetes include excessive thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, blurry vision, slow-healing wounds, and in some cases rapid weight loss. Rosenberg said individuals experiencing these issues should seek testing and guidance.

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For more information, Rosenberg recommended online searches, explaining, “You can Google the Cedar City Diabetes Clinic and find our phone number,” noting that referrals from primary care providers are required.

You can hear the entire discussion with Harmony Rosenberg in the podcast below.