Comprehensive Diabetes Care

At the new Byrd Clinical Center, located just a block from Cabell Huntington Hospital's campus, the Bruce S. Chertow, MD, Diabetes Center is a busy place. It is staffed by a complete team of endocrinologists, diabetes educators and specialty personnel who treat and manage diabetes. The center, which is accredited by the American Diabetes Association, is a testament to years of teamwork between Cabell Huntington and Marshall University.

Many years ago, Bruce S. Chertow, MD, dedicated his medical career to diabetes treatment, and now the comprehensive diabetes center is dedicated to him. Patients are seen in the Diabetes Center and cared for at Cabell Huntington when necessary, whether they are in need of lifestyle intervention, oral diabetic agents, insulin pumps or continuous glucose monitoring systems.

Largest single group of board-certified endocrinologists in WV

Dr. Henry Driscoll, Dr. Abid Yaqub, Dr. Tipu Saleem, Dr. Ayman Elkadry, Dr. Mateen Hotiana and Dr. Omolola Olajide make up the largest single group of board-certified endocrinologists in West Virginia, giving them a unique expertise to address the needs of a growing number of diabetic patients.

"The real benefit of providing all-inclusive diabetes services is that referring physicians can feel confident that their patients will get state-of-the-art diabetes care here," said Dr. Yaqub.

"Because our physicians are specifically trained in prevention, diagnosis and management of diabetes and are fellowship-trained in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism, we are willing and able to take on the challenge of managing diabetic patients," Dr. Yaqub said.

"There was a commitment to the care of patients with diabetes even before it was widely realized how great the scope of the problem is," said Dr. Driscoll. Dr. Driscoll has a long involvement in diabetes care at Cabell Huntington Hospital and believes the team involvement of physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dietitians, educators, lab specialists and therapists is critical.

Patient education provided by dietitians

Whether they are reviewing a diabetic patient's diet or creating a plan to manage blood glucose, certified diabetes educators Anise Nash RN, BSN, and Tracey Hawthorne, RD, are stressing important lifestyle skills to help their diabetic patients.

"We stress the importance of diabetes self-management education to allow individuals with diabetes to learn the skills needed to manage this chronic disease and prevent the complications related to uncontrolled diabetes," Hawthorne said.

Much of the education component at the Diabetes Center is focused on diet, including balancing food choices and understanding weight management and exercise. Patients are seen one-on-one by Nash or Hawthorne to create an individual plan for managing their care. Group activities are also facilitated by the educators.

"As educators, we fill the role not only of providing education, but as a patient advocate, a strategist and a motivator," Nash said.

Education is the most important tool for preventing diabetes, especially in the Tri-State area where diabetes is prevalent, Dr. Yaqub said.

Dedicated exercise programs for diabetic patients

In partnership with Marshall University, Cabell Huntington Hospital hosts a specialized Diabetes Exercise Center to provide a multidisciplinary approach to diabetes management. The Center is located in the Cam Henderson Center on Marshall University's campus. The purpose of the program is to help patients prevent complications of diabetes mellitus through exercise, nutritional counseling and additional education programs.

Rachel Frame, MS, and Lois Adkins, are clinical exercise physiologists who coordinate the program. They supervise exercise sessions, which include routine blood pressure assessments, blood glucose checks, heart rate response and EKG monitoring. A weekly education seminar is also offered every Wednesday.

"The Cabell Huntington Hospital Diabetes Exercise Center is one of the few formally supervised exercise programs in the area for diabetes patients," Frame said. "Patients consistently show significant improvement in their clinical status and quality of life. Their dependence on the healthcare system is also reduced, resulting in reductions in healthcare costs."

Patients referred to the Diabetes Exercise Center are typically pre-diabetes or have non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and insulin-dependent mellitus. To learn more about the Diabetes Exercise Center, please call 304-696-2939.

Diabetes Support Group

The MU Diabetes Support Group meets monthly at the Byrd Clinical Center at 1249 15th Street in Huntington, WV. For more information, please call 304-691–1662.

Dialysis, wound care and other resources

Other resources made available by Cabell Huntington Hospital include the J. Robert Pritchard Dialysis Center, a neurophysiology lab and the Center for Wound Healing, a comprehensive wound center that offers hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

"Cabell Huntington Hospital has recognized the need for the full range of services important to the diabetic patients of our community and region," Dr. Yingling said. "The hospital has fully supported development and successful services in fields like ophthalmology, nephrology, podiatry, wound care and many other services important for the best care and outcome of this vulnerable patient group."

American Diabetic Association (ADA)

Juvenile Diabetes Resource Foundation (JDRF)

For more information about diabetes services and the Marshall University Bruce C. Chertow Diabetes Center, please call 304-691-1000.

• Last updated: 01/26/2012
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