A man in his late-twenties arrived at one of St. John’s Well Child and Family Center’s clinics complaining of major weight loss, intense thirst and fatigue. The staff was shocked to find that his blood glucose level was 622, far above the threshold considered diabetic (which is anything over 125); his hemoglobin A1C level was 17 (the normal level is 6), which is a general measure of glycemic control over a three-month period. This was the highest such level that the clinician had ever seen. The patient was immediately placed on medications, and came frequently to the clinic for hydration and insulin treatment. He also received intensive nutrition and lifestyle education, and as a result radically changed his entire diet. After three months of this clinical and nutrition regimen, his hemoglobin A1C level was reduced to 6.5, an enormous improvement in glycemic control. St. John’s interventions and the patient’s own determination kept him out of the hospital. His blood sugars are now stable. He is on oral diabetes medication and now needs to come to the clinic just once every three months for a check-up.
April 14, 2010 at 1:04 pm |
So important in saving lives. Great story