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Free foot clinic for diabetics today
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Posted on Nov 13 2008
The Physical Therapy Department of the Commonwealth Health Center is inviting the public to an open house foot clinic as a way of celebrating World Diabetes Day today.
The clinic is scheduled from 1pm to 4pm and includes free services for blood sugar check, blood pressure check, foot inspection, instruction in diabetic foot care, education in blood sugar control, education in nutrition, vision check, and health snacks and refreshments.
Pam Carhill, chief instructor and CHC’s PT Department manager, said this would be an opportunity for patients to meet developers and staff members involved in the Diabetic Foot Clinic, which has been operating since 2004.
Since that time, Carhill said, major amputations in the CNMI had been reduced to 77 percent. The PT Department receives an average of 4-9 patients a day.
Studies show that about 30 percent or a third of the CNMI’s population have diabetes.
The PT Department is open from 9am to 11am every Wednesday.
“We encourage patients to come with members of the family because that is very important in the healing process,” Carhill said.
Today’s open house clinic is spearheaded by physical therapist Dana McFadden. She will be joined by PT Jamie Beavis to attend to patients.
Nurse educator Bobby Ayres, dietician Louise Oakley and the staff of Marianas Eye Institute will also be there to educate patients.
During an open house clinic last year, Carhill said they discovered that 10 people who had no diagnosis of diabetes had higher than normal sugars and referred them to doctors.
Carhill explained that patients needed to see a dietician because it is important that they know how to make changes in their eating habits.
“A high percentage of sugar in a person’s body will most likely result in body illnesses. It affects the blood vessels, it can damage the eyes and the foot,” she said.
She said it is also important for diabetics to learn how to take their medicines.
With a large contribution and effort by the Diabetes Coalition, the Pacific Diabetes Education Program and the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant, the CHC PT Department is able to come up with ways on how to take care or assist patients in the CNMI.
