July 24, 2015
Sam Smith was the kind of guy who never got sick, never missed work and never went to the doctor.
That all ended last spring when he began feeling tired and weak. He went to the doctor and found out he was diabetic. Not only did the diagnosis shock him but the level of glucose in his blood was 337 – which is literally off the charts, and his A1C level was 13.4 – almost twice as high as recommended.
Smith knew he had to make some changes. Dr. John Crider of Arab referred him to Diabetes Self-Management Training classes at Marshall Medical Center. He started right away.
“The goal of the program is for them to become an expert on themselves,” said Julie Drzewiecki, a Registered Dietician and a Certified Diabetes Educator. “We want to give them the tools so they are able to manage their diabetes.”
Class saw 86 percent improvement in A1C scores
Three months after Smith registered an A1C level of 13.4 he tested again. His blood glucose level was 6.3, well below the recommended range of 7. A year after his diagnosis, it’s 5.8.
“I may not get it to the point where I’m not diabetic anymore, but I can keep it at a minimal,” Smith said.
Not only did Smith see tremendous benefit following the class, so did his classmates. In fact, 38 of the 44 people who got a follow-up A1C test after the class lowered their number. That’s an 86 percent improvement. The average A1C for students at the beginning of class was 8.97. That dropped to 7.2 afterward.
“It shows what we’re doing works,” Ms. Drzewiecki said. “I’m just bursting with pride at the improvement in his A1C.”
The Diabetes Management program starts with a four-hour class, in which Ms. Drzewiecki teaches carb counting and a meal plate planning method. Carb counting is more exact and time consuming while plate planning is simpler. Students can use either one. RN Lisa Bearden, who is director of education for Marshall North, then teaches students about the disease. She covers what diabetes is and its complications, along with eye care, foot care and kidneys. She explains there will be sick days and how to manage them.
Ms. Drzewiecki warns students they will have days with high blood glucose levels, but she says that’s a learning opportunity. That’s why diabetics should test daily. Students are urged to set personal goals, such as eating more vegetables, exercising and losing weight.
The Smiths, of Union Grove, started immediately. Because their youngest son, Anthony, 25, cooks for the family, he attended diabetes classes with his parents. “He revamped everything we eat,’’ Donna Smith said. “Sam Jr. and Anthony now watch everything we eat. Those classes helped immensely.”
Smith, 59, who works for Umicore and gardens for fun, said before diabetes he was a big fan of sweet tea. That’s been replaced by unsweetened tea and water. They eat steamed vegetables instead of fried. Bread is almost gone from the menu and salads show up quite often. When grocery shopping now, Sam checks the carb count on every item and compares it to the guide before tossing it in the cart.
“Julie stressed don’t worry about sugar – just worry about carbs,” Mrs. Smith said. Diabetes Support Group meets quarterly
Marshall Medical’s diabetes program started in 2007. The American Diabetes Association officially recognized the program in 2010. The hospital created its own Diabetes Advisory Council to give direction to the program. Made up of RNs, dieticians from both hospitals, a volunteer and a member of the Lions Club, the board meets annually.
“The purpose is how we can better serve the diabetics of Marshall County,” said Ms. Drzewiecki.One way diabetics are served is through a support group that meets quarterly. Mr. and Mrs. Smith attend the support meetings. She said they are very helpful, especially one that included a ‘foot check’ to emphasize the importance of foot care to diabetics. It’s also nice to meet other families dealing with the same issues.
“I really enjoy the support groups,” she said.
Entire program is free and open to all diabetics and their families.
Smith assumes that his diabetes was inherited because his mother and several family members also had it. Now he and his wife are worried about the health of their sons. That’s another reason the education classes are important to them.
“Now our boys have diabetes on both sides,” Mrs. Smith said. “Maybe they won’t be diabetic, but if they are they will know what to do.”
Ms. Drzewiecki said Alabama has the second highest diabetes rate in the nation. The national rate of diabetics is 22.8 percent of the population. In Marshall County, 26.8 percent of residents are diabetic. As one of less than 50 certified diabetes educators in the state – along with Dietician Sheri Gaskin at Marshall South - she is motivated to work even harder to educate residents.
“We have a lot of work to do,” she said.