New Saint John clinic aims to see more patients with diabetes
A new evening clinic for people with diabetes will open in Saint John next month.
It is estimated that nearly 100,000 people in New Brunswick live with diabetes, and an additional 100,000 have pre-diabetes, making them more susceptible to the disease.
But many aren't getting regular checkups to monitor and take better control of their disease, said Dr. Stephen Hull, an endocrinologist at Horizon Health Network.
"Maybe some people are scared to come in for testing … for whatever reason people have other priorities in their lives, they're busy and we understand all that," Hull said Friday on Information Morning Saint John.
"Perhaps they experienced condemnation or judgement in the past [but] I like to think that in my clinic we don't run on that basis. We support people, we treat them as human beings and try to support them to manage their diabetes."
The new evening clinic will be offered once a month at the Saint John Regional Hospital, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. beginning August 3.
Hull will oversee operations along with a nurse and dietitian, and patients will mainly have blood work done to measure their blood sugars.
"It's a vital way we can monitor how their diabetes is being controlled," said Hull.
"We also like to test blood pressure, cholesterol and kidney function, and other aspects of health that can be affected, such as the heart, kidneys and the eyes."
Busy schedules
Hull said people with diabetes should have their levels checked every three to six months, depending on their course of treatment.
He says busy schedules can sometimes get in the way of regular visits.
"People have work, families, other commitments in life, and I guess we're just trying to give it a different time of day to give people that opportunity. Hopefully it will encourage people to come," said Hull.
"There might be a sense of complacency — I don't need to go in for tests because I'm feeling well — but that's not necessarily the case, because damage can be done in the early stages of disease when people think they're all right."
The new clinic will accept patients between the ages of 18 and 50 who have not been able to receive care or blood work in the past two years.
Highest rates in the world
Canada has one of the highest rates of diabetes in the world, according to a report released last fall.
The Canadian Institute of Health estimates that 10 per cent of Canadians have Type 2 diabetes, a long-term condition characterized by insulin resistance.
Patients can manage their diabetes with medication and diet, but the disease is often life-long and is a major cause of blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke and lower limb amputation.
