Baptist Health Center Hoover Launches Diabetes Health Initiative

Healthy communities begin with healthy people. Diabetes has become an all too common chronic health problem that can do serious damage if it isn’t recognized early and managed carefully.

To meet this problem head on, the Baptist Health Center in Hoover is taking a comprehensive approach, teaming its multidisciplinary staff with community resources to identify diabetes early and manage it more effectively.

“BHC Hoover Primary Care physicians, Doctors Jody Gilstrap, Maria Bennett, Dorothy Beth Hughes and Charles Felgner, have put together a multidisciplinary team and are working with community resources and patients to take a 360 degree approach to managing diabetes,” John Gardner, Executive Director of Operations for Baptist Health Center Hoover, said.

“We are building a relationship with the Hoover YMCA. We participate in health fairs and do screenings and blood glucose testing to identify possible pre-diabetics and diabetics. For our pre-diabetic patients who have A1C levels between 5.7 percent and 6.4 percent, we offer referrals for the Hoover YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program. This qualifies them for a year-long membership for only $150,” Gardner said.

Another element of the initiative is making sure patients understand their medications and take them correctly.

“Our Samford PharmD residents work with patients on-site to help with medication monitoring and diabetes education. The program is directed by Ami Teague Shell, PharmD, BCPS, AAHIVP,” Gardner said.

“Our residents teach patients how to self-test their blood sugar using a blood glucose monitor and talk to patients about what their goals values are,” Ami Shell said. “The PharmD group also teaches patients who are being initiated on injectibles how to self-administer their medication. They give patients general information about diabetes, and talk to them about lab goals, long term effects of uncontrolled diabetes, diet and lifestyle benefits/recommendations, specific medication information, and preventative measures (including eye exams, dental visits, immunizations).” 

Learning to live with a diagnosis of diabetes can be overwhelming for patients and their families. Not only is there the disease itself to learn about, and medications and exercise programs, but there is also the fundamental issue of learning a whole new way of eating—and how to prepare the food and make it satisfying.

“The Delicious Dietitian is our on-site program that gives patients the option of meeting with a registered dietitian for one-on-one coaching to help them understand the role nutrition plays in managing diabetes, Gardner said.”

Haley Kirkpatrick, MS, RD, LD, is clinical director of The Delicious Dietitian program.

“We help patients understand what their lab values mean, how to check blood sugars, what to do when blood sugars are too high or too low, and how to manage their disease on a day-to-day basis,” Krikpatrick said. “When working with patients who have diabetes or pre-diabetes, it is important to understand how the patient is currently eating so a plan can be created that will be easy for the patient to follow.

“The dietitian works with the patient to create a meal plan, shopping list, and meal ideas to make the transition to healthy eating easier. For many patients with diabetes, weight is also an issue, and we work with those patients to lose weight in a safe and controlled program. We help patients set goals for healthy eating, exercise, and lifestyle changes.” 

Gardner summed up by saying, “As you can see, this extensive, comprehensive approach utilizing many healthcare professionals, community resources, and giving the patient a variety of options and tools is a great way to help improve the health and wellness of our pre-diabetic and diabetic population.”