“I would wake up exhausted”: How one patient’s diabetes diagnosis kickstarted big life changes

Getting Health Care Right

A diabetes diagnosis puts a patient at a critical juncture in their lives. It simply cannot be ignored. In the short term, uncontrolled diabetes can negatively impact mood, energy level and sleep quality, according to Dawn LaRochelle, certified diabetes care and education specialist and registered dietitian at TriHealth, in this episode of Getting Health Care Right. Longer term, the effects can be even worse, she says: uncontrolled diabetes can increase risk of heart disease, kidney disease, vision problems and overall quality of life.

“I had all of that,” says Rolanda Furr, a Cincinnati resident and TriHealth patient, in response to LaRochelle’s list of negative health effects from uncontrolled diabetes. “I did not sleep well. I would wake up exhausted. I literally would not be able to walk from my bedroom, to the living room, to the kitchen.”

In this podcast episode, LaRochelle and Furr talk about diabetes management and prevention with Jamie Smith, president and publisher of the Cincinnati Business Courier. Listen to the episode to learn more about:

· Furr’s diabetes diagnosis and journey to improve her overall well-being.

· Ways LaRochelle works with patients like Furr to develop individualized diabetes management plans.

· The age at which patients should seek out screenings for diabetes.

· Furr’s advice to someone who has been newly diagnosed with pre-diabetes.

· Goals of diabetes education in a population health model.

Learn more at TriHealth.com.