Dr. Alan Cleland, MD

Dr. Alan Cleland, MD is an Endocrinology specialist dedicated to empowering patients with proactive, comprehensive Endocrine care at his clinic in Jacksonville, FL. Registered with The Florida Board of Medicine and practicing under Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice), Dr. Cleland understands the crucial role of prevention in maintaining optimal health. Your endocrinologist is your primary partner in preventing hormonal and metabolic issues, creating personalized long-term health plans, coordinating essential screenings, and empowering you to manage your overall wellness for a healthier future. He serves all ages, and is currently welcoming new patients to begin their proactive health journey. Call (904) 880-8388 to schedule.

Dr. Alan Cleland, MD is a diabetes & metabolism endocrinologist in Jacksonville, FL, with extensive experience in Diabetes & Glucose Monitoring, Thyroid Disorders, and Metabolic Disorders. He is affiliated with Baptist Medical Center Nassau and AdventHealth Palm Coast. Dr. Cleland, who earned his medical degree from Tulane University Of Louisiana, is Board Certified in Diabetes, Metabolism & Endocrinology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. His approach to care is deeply collaborative and evidence-based, fostering a supportive environment where patients feel empowered to actively participate in their long-term health management. He offers consultations in German.

A key part of the WePrevent mission is building your personalized prevention roadmap. Dr. Alan Cleland is a vital partner in this journey, focusing on proactive strategies to protect and enhance your long-term health.

By working together, you and Dr. Alan Cleland can create a clear, actionable plan to address your unique risk factors and health goals.

A proactive approach to health involves understanding and managing potential risks. Dr. Alan Cleland provides expert care for a range of conditions, focusing on early detection and effective management to support your long-term wellness. Common areas of focus include:

• Acromegaly and Gigantism: Early detection of acromegaly and gigantism is crucial for preventing long-term health complications like joint pain, organ damage, and cardiovascular problems.
• Gestational Diabetes: Managing gestational diabetes effectively through diet, exercise, and sometimes medication helps prevent serious complications like preeclampsia and reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
• Pregestational Diabetes Mellitus: Having diabetes before pregnancy significantly increases risks for both mother and baby, so managing your blood sugar before conception is crucial for a healthy pregnancy.
• Adrenogenital Disorders: Adrenogenital disorders are a group of inherited conditions affecting hormone production, and early diagnosis through regular checkups helps prevent long-term health problems.
• Renal Hyperparathyroidism: Protecting your kidneys and bones starts with understanding renal hyperparathyroidism; early detection through blood tests allows for timely intervention and reduces long-term complications.
• Diabetes Type 1: Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease, can't be prevented, but early diagnosis and diligent management significantly reduce the risk of long-term complications like heart disease and kidney failure.
• Hypothyroidism: Managing hypothyroidism through medication and lifestyle changes, once diagnosed, is crucial for preventing complications and maintaining a healthy metabolism.
• Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Protecting yourself from the debilitating effects of vitamin B12 deficiency starts with understanding your risk factors and prioritizing regular health checkups.
• Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases: Managing autoimmune thyroid diseases effectively means actively participating in your healthcare, enabling prevention of severe symptoms and maintaining your overall health.
• Perimenopause: Managing perimenopause symptoms effectively through lifestyle changes and, when necessary, medical intervention, can prevent long-term complications such as osteoporosis and cardiovascular problems.
• Gout: Early detection of gout through regular check-ups and awareness of symptoms can help prevent joint damage and long-term disability.
• Mineral Metabolism Disorders: Understanding your risk factors for mineral metabolism disorders, such as family history or certain medical conditions, empowers you to take preventative steps, like dietary modifications and regular monitoring, to maintain optimal mineral balance.

This list highlights some common health concerns and is for informational purposes only. The best way to understand your personal health and create a prevention plan is to schedule a consultation. Accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment plans are developed based on individual patient evaluations.

Taking proactive steps is central to long-term health. Dr. Alan Cleland offers a range of key preventive screenings and services designed to provide crucial insights into your health and support your well-being:

• Continuous Glucose Monitoring: Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) helps you proactively track your blood sugar levels throughout the day and night, empowering you to make informed decisions to prevent or manage diabetes complications.
• Dynamic Endocrine Function Test: Take charge of your health with a dynamic endocrine function test; it's a comprehensive screening that detects subtle hormonal changes before they cause significant symptoms.
• Diabetic Evaluation: Take charge of your health with a diabetic evaluation; it's a comprehensive assessment that detects early signs of diabetes and allows for timely intervention.
• Thyroid Screening: Thyroid screening helps detect imbalances early, preventing potential health problems related to your metabolism and overall well-being.
• Thyroid Hormone Replacement: Prevent the long-term consequences of an underactive thyroid by seeking thyroid hormone replacement, restoring your metabolism and improving your quality of life.
• ACTH (Cosyntropin) Stimulation Test: This test measures your body's response to a hormone, giving your doctor valuable insights into the health of your adrenal glands, enabling timely intervention and preventing potential long-term health problems.
• Diabetes Counseling: Proactively manage your diabetes risk factors and improve your long-term health through expert diabetes counseling.
• Dexamethasone Suppression Test: This simple test measures your cortisol levels to screen for disorders affecting your adrenal glands, allowing for early intervention and management of hormonal issues.
• Thyroid Scan: A thyroid scan is a painless test that helps check your thyroid gland's function and detect potential issues early, preventing more serious problems down the line.
• Water Deprivation Test: To ensure the healthy function of your endocrine system, a water deprivation test helps your doctor detect early signs of diabetes insipidus or other disorders affecting fluid regulation and hormone production.
• Oral Glucose Tolerance Test: Protecting your long-term health starts with an oral glucose tolerance test, which helps screen for conditions like diabetes and insulin resistance.
• Diabetes Screening: Don't wait for symptoms—a diabetes screening provides valuable insights into your blood sugar levels, empowering you to make informed decisions about your health.

Service availability can change, and not all services listed may be appropriate for every patient. For a comprehensive understanding of all available services and to create your personalized screening plan, please schedule a consultation.

All medical services are provided in accordance with the standard scope of practice for Endocrinologies in Florida.

Dr. Alan Cleland is dedicated to partnering with Caregivers to achieve their unique health objectives. The following examples illustrate how a proactive approach can make a tangible difference in a Patient's life:

• By proactively scheduling regular checkups and screenings, a patient significantly reduced their risk of developing long-term complications from acromegaly and gigantism, ensuring a healthier future.
• By following a personalized plan that included healthy eating and regular exercise, a pregnant woman successfully managed her gestational diabetes, resulting in a healthy pregnancy and a reduced risk of long-term health issues.
• By proactively managing blood sugar levels before conception, a patient significantly reduced their risk of pregestational diabetes, ensuring a healthier pregnancy and a more peaceful start for their future family.

These scenarios are illustrative examples of positive health outcomes. Individual results may vary and depend on many factors specific to each patient. He will work with you to define and achieve your personal health goals.

Here are answers to some common questions about proactive Endocrine care with Dr. Alan Cleland:

What is an Endocrinologist?

An endocrinologist is a medical doctor specializing in the endocrine system, which includes the glands that produce hormones. They diagnose and treat hormonal imbalances, and manage conditions like diabetes, thyroid disorders, osteoporosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).

What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the body doesn't produce insulin, requiring lifelong insulin therapy. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance, meaning the body doesn't use insulin effectively, often managed initially with lifestyle changes and oral medications.

I have a thyroid nodule. Does this mean I have cancer?

The vast majority of thyroid nodules are benign. Dr. Cleland is experienced in evaluating nodules, often using ultrasound and sometimes a fine-needle aspiration biopsy to determine if further evaluation is needed.

What is a pituitary adenoma?

A pituitary adenoma is a benign tumor of the pituitary gland. Sometimes, they cause problems by overproducing hormones or growing large enough to press on nearby structures. Dr. Cleland is an expert in diagnosing and medically managing these tumors.

What is metabolic syndrome?

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of conditions, including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess belly fat, and abnormal cholesterol levels, that significantly increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Managing these conditions is a key preventive strategy.

Why is it important to control blood sugar during pregnancy?

Controlling blood sugar during pregnancy is vital to prevent complications for both you and your baby. It helps prevent the baby from becoming too large, reduces the risk of a cesarean delivery, and lowers your future risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

What are the treatment options for Low Testosterone (Low T) in men?

After confirming low testosterone levels with blood tests, Dr. Cleland can discuss various safe and effective testosterone replacement therapy options, such as gels, injections, or pellets, to restore normal hormone levels and alleviate symptoms like fatigue and low libido.

What is Hashimoto's disease?

Hashimoto's disease is the most common cause of an underactive thyroid in the U.S. It's an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks the thyroid gland, causing damage over time. Fortunately, it's easily managed with thyroid hormone replacement therapy.

14540 Old Saint Augustine Rd Ste 2317
Jacksonville FL 32258
Phone: (904) 880-8388

Dr. Alan Cleland, MD is regulated by the Florida Statutes, Title XXXII, Chapter 458 (Medical Practice) in Florida and is licensed by The Florida Board of Medicine.

National Provider Identifier (NPI): 1932182227

Registration can typically be verified through The Florida Board of Medicine website or by direct inquiry.

The information on this profile, provided by weprevent.org, is for general informational purposes and to help you connect with preventive health partners. It does not constitute direct medical advice from the physician named. Endocrinologies like Dr. Alan Cleland are skilled in helping patients create proactive health plans. For urgent or life-threatening emergencies, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency department. It is always recommended to maintain open communication with your endocrinology about all aspects of your health and your personalized prevention plan.