Teaming up to control Diabetes

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The partnership between doctor and patient can be the key to controlling Diabetes.

In February, LeChelle Oliver learned she has a serious illness.

Oliver said, "They did bloodwork and they called me the next day and said 'you have diabetes.'"

How did LeChelle react to that?

Oliver said, "I cried. I cried."

She went to se Doctor Susan Szimonisz at the Northwest Buffalo Community Healthcare Center.

Dr. Szimonisz said, "It's a disease I think, when people find out they're diabetic, they're overwhelmed because it's 24/7, and it can affect you head to toe."

The center has a strategy that works.

Dr. Szimonisz said, "We've gotten the patients now tied in with ownership of their disease they come up with the self-management goals. They say that by the next visit they're going to lose five pounds or smoke half as much."

Those small achievable steps add up.

Oliver said, "And she told me 'well, if you lose probably twenty pounds, you'll probably be doing a lot better.' And so that's exactly what I lost, 26."

And her blood sugar gradually came down. She measures it four times a day.

Albert Brach also has diabetes. He and his doctor and his wife teamed up.

Brach said, "We put it together and sat down and figured out which was the best way to go, and apparently it's working out that way."

The center keeps track of it's patients on an automated registry, and makes sure they come in for the care they need, including dental care.

It's a partnership that works.

Oliver said, "There is hope. You just gotta go out and do it. You have to be the one to say 'you know what, I'm not going to let this beat me down. I can do this. I can beat this. It's not going to beat me.'"

News 4's Don Postles asked, "You mentioned dental care. Why is that so important?"

Doctor Peter Ostrow said, "Dr. Szimonisz mentioned that Diabetes affects you from head to toe, and diabetics are much more likely to develop gum disease. And Gum Disease raises your risk of heart attack and stroke. And if you lose your teeth, your nutrition may suffer. So dental care is very important for diabetics.