Good information is the miracle drug

James had been struggling with diabetes for more than 15 years. His health was getting worse and he was looking at increased medication. He also has high blood pressure and consumed significant alcohol. His doctor connected him with the family nurse in the clinic.

The nurse suggested he use the diabetes libre monitor. This tool tells him immediately the result of his food intake and other lifestyle factors. When you see the result on the chart, it is a strong visual aid and  you have nowhere to hide.  You have to  acknowledge that your choices are affecting your blood sugars. His job with the nurse’s support was first to reduce the peaks and then reduce the range of blood sugars. This tool was key to tying the information his nurse was telling him to his actions.

The nurse helped him to improve his diet and also got a dietitian to help him with certain aspects. He is now much more careful what he eats before going to bed to help with control overnight. The nurse helped him to understand how the medications work. She made it clear to him that the alcohol intake was detrimental to his health, so he stopped all intake. He could see the positive effect of weight loss as well as regular walking. His weight has gone from 206 to 156 pounds. This is back to the weight he was in his twenties. His blood sugars are now in the range of 6 to 9- the first time he has seen that in over a decade. His blood pressure is also significantly improved. At his next appointment, the team will review all of his medications and decide what he needs from here. He feels so much better. One improvement cascades to another,  he was able to immediately identify more energy, better awareness, increased ability to relax, ability to sleep deeper, and better agility and movement.

He states “The libre gave me immediate feedback and the nurse was there to help me understand what it all meant and why, that information made all the difference.”

Click here for more success stories from the Primary Care Network in Red Deer.