Diabetes monitoring and education enables Veterans to take the lead on their health

Likewise, Veterans with diabetes have the familiar struggle of balancing it all, which could lead to putting health goals on the back burner. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 1 in 10 Americans have diabetes; most have Type 2 diabetes. The good news is Type 2 can be prevented or delayed with lifestyle changes. 

At the Salisbury VA Health Care System, care teams work relentlessly  with Veterans in search of personalized Whole Health plans and goals to help Veterans lead the fullest and healthiest life possible. 

For U.S. Army Veteran Gloria Gardner, everyday life with Type 2 diabetes was full of challenges, from endless painful finger pricks, weight and lifestyle management challenges, to severe fatigue.

For several years, Gardner has been a patient of Dr. Aashish Shah, Chief of Endocrinology, at the Charlotte Health Care Center (HCC) Endocrine clinic.

Endocrinology focuses on the treatment and study of diabetes, osteoporosis, thyroid disorders and more. 

Initially hesitant to begin insulin, Gardner eventually agreed which allowed her to be set up with a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) device.

With her blood sugar at dangerously high levels, clinic staff including Nurses Julienne Nortey, Shannon Henry, and Jeanine Foster quickly put together a personalized plan to help rapidly improve Gardner’s health.

“I really appreciate Dr. Shah and all the nurses,” said Gardner. “They all are wonderful.”

Gardner’s plan included medication, educational sessions, and the CGM device - which allows her to have real time knowledge of her blood sugar. 

The device, which is placed on the back of patients’ arms, also pairs with their  smartphones and gives them the opportunity to keep up with their blood sugar levels throughout the day.

“It has truly been a big help,” added Gardner who began using the CGM device last fall. “It really keeps me balanced.”

After two weeks on the CGM, staff were able to gather the first set of data for Gardner. Her CGM was active 95% of the time, which was good news as it showed that she was engaged. 

At that time, her Glucose Management Index (GMI) was 11.8% (which is comparable to a hemoglobin A1C), and her average glucose was about 357. 

The Charlotte HCC Endocrine Clinic care team wants Veterans to know consistently heightened blood sugar levels can lead to irreversible damage to kidneys, eyes, the nervous system, and more.

“It’s really rewarding to talk to Veterans and encourage and teach them how to avoid the long-term complications that come with diabetes, as well as witness what they are doing for themselves,” explained Henry.

Thanks to some hard work, following her personalized health care plan, and the CGM device, Gardener’s blood sugar has exponentially improved and allowed her to take back control of her health. In a few short months, her GMI went from 11.8% to 6.8% and average glucose dropped to 146 from 357.

“She was a rock star with the self-administration of the insulin pen,” added  Foster about Gardner’s remarkable development. “She went from as elevated as it can be to almost within normal range and making great improvement over time.”

“What this case really highlights is within the endocrine clinic, the interdisciplinary collaboration that we have,” said Dr. Shah. “That collaborative approach and intervention has really helped.”

For more information on this story, email the Office of Strategic Communications & Public Affairs at salisburyvapublicaffairs@va.gov. 

About the Salisbury VA Health Care System

At the Salisbury VA Health Care System, our mission is to fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors. 

Learn more at www.va.gov/salisbury-health-care.