Achieving Stability With Diabetes

From living alone his entire life to pushing himself to run several 5k races each year, David Allen, 58, has always been self-reliant.

In August 2022, David was admitted to North Kansas City Hospital for gastroenterology issues. During routine labs, his care team performed an A1C blood test to measure his average blood sugar levels over a three-month period. This test measures levels on a scale of 4-14, and readings higher than 6.5 indicate diabetes. David’s A1C results were dangerously high at 9.7, which led to his Type 2 diabetes diagnosis.

Although his diagnosis and lack of disease knowledge terrified him, his independent nature led him to believe he could manage his diabetes on his own.

“I changed my diet and habits drastically,” said David, who lives in the Northland. “But I fell off the wagon with my diet when the holidays began. I thought I could jump back on it, but then realized I needed a professional.”

David decided to talk with his primary care provider, Jason Goergen, DO, a family medicine doctor with Meritas Health Park Plaza, who referred him to the NKCH and MH’s Living With Diabetes program. This program provides diabetes education and support, touching on several topics, like blood glucose monitoring, diet planning, medication and physical activity.

In September 2023, David met with Lindsey Robinson, MS, RDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist, who helped him better understand nutrition needs while managing diabetes.

“Many people think diabetes is a death sentence,” Lindsey said. “There’s a lot of misinformation online. I try to help people understand that no food is off limits, and we can incorporate all foods despite having diabetes.”

Then, David met with Melissa Zalonis, BSN, RN-CDE, certified diabetes care and education specialist, who helped re-educate him on several diabetes-related topics.

“I set David up with a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) to track his blood sugar levels,” Melissa said. “I can review his levels and identify when he seems to be struggling. Together, we can discuss how to adjust his diabetes care plan.”

After completing the Living With Diabetes program and starting to use a CGM, David feels confident about how to manage and live with this disease.

“Working with empathetic and encouraging health professionals, like Melissa and Lindsey, has made all the difference,” David said. “They helped me realize that I have a long life ahead of me with the various diabetes resources offered at NKCH and MH.”