Baylor Scott & White Celebrates American Diabetes Month®

Baylor raises awareness of diabetes centers and research during November

During American Diabetes Month®, Baylor Scott & White Health (BSWH) recognizes the importance of improving the lives of the 256,000 people living with diabetes in Dallas-Fort Worth. BSWH provides comprehensive and accessible resources, including several research studies and institutions dedicated to the diagnosis, management and prevention of the disease.

BSWH's extensive approach to diabetic care provides access to services such as:

  • Cardiology and pulmonology for heart and lung care
  • Podiatry and physcial rehab for foot health
  • Ophthalmology to maintain vision
  • Nephrology for kidney care
  • Diabetes educational programs
  • Support groups for diabetic patients and their families

BSWH has two notable diabetes centers – the Diabetes Health and Wellness Institute and the Ruth Collins Diabetes Center. These resources, which are available to the public, help diabetic patients by providing classes on nutrition and lifestyle management, as well as diabetes control and support groups.

Diabetes Health and Wellness Institute

Established in 2010 as part of Baylor's Southern Sector Health Initiative, the Diabetes Health and Wellness Institute was strategically located in the predominantly African-American Frazier neighborhood in South Dallas. People living in this disadvantaged neighborhood, where the average median household income is $9,000, were three times more likely to die from diabetes-related complications as those living elsewhere in Dallas County. With 17 percent of diabetes-related hospitalizations coming from the Frazier neighborhood, Baylor collaborated with the City of Dallas to establish the $15 million institute, which now serves about 3,500 people.

The Diabetes Health and Wellness Institute, located at the Juanita J. Craft Recreation Center, provides diabetic patients with full-time, on-site physicians and nurse practitioners, as well as nutrition and cooking classes that feature healthy recipes specifically for diabetes management. The institute also offers its members several programs and resources, such as diabetes education, disease management and nutrition counseling.

To learn more about the institute, visit dhwidallas.com.

Ruth Collins Diabetes Center

With three DFW locations that have all been recognized by the American Diabetes Association for quality self-management education, Ruth Collins Diabetes Center is one of the most widely available resources for diabetes management in the Metroplex. The center – available at Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas, Ruth Collins Diabetes Center at Mesquite and Baylor Senior Health Center at Mesquite – offers comprehensive clinical services, providing patients with convenient health care through a single source.

Focused on diabetes education, management, prevention and screening, the center provides self-management programs ranging from type 1 and 2 diabetes to gestational diabetes and prediabetes education. It also offers support through the Ruth Collins Support Group, a free resource that focuses on patients before, during and after completing type 2 diabetes self-management training.

To learn more about the center, visit baylorhealth.com/diabetes.

GRADE Study

The first of its kind, the Glycemia Reduction Approaches in Diabetes: A Comparative Effectiveness (GRADE) Study is supported under a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant. The national study is designed to compare the long-term risks and benefits of combining metformin, the most common preferred medication for treating type 2 diabetes, with four other widely used diabetes drugs. Baylor Endocrine Center, in association with Baylor Research Institute, is one of 48 research sites in the nation participating in this study.

No other comparison studies exist on the number of medications for diabetic patients, let alone how these medications can be combined and used to effectively treat diabetes. Because the disease is a progressive one – even for patients who lead a healthy lifestyle that includes a balanced diet and regular exercise – diabetes research is important for advancing treatment options.

Led by principal investigator Priscilla Hollander, MD, PhD, of Baylor Endocrine Center, the GRADE study compares adverse effects; drug effects on glucose levels; quality of life; and diabetes complications over the span of five to seven years. If these medication combinations prove to be the best treatment, the results could help patients better manage their diabetes and cut avoidable health costs.

"The prevalence of diabetes is growing daily," Dr. Hollander said. "If diabetes isn't controlled, a patient's health care expenses can be high, so we hope to cut down on the health costs. But we also want to help people be happier and healthier and not subject to the complications of diabetes. There are major outcomes in terms of helping in this battle with diabetes, so that's where something like this study can be important in the long run."

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MEDIA CONTACT:

Kristine Hughes
kristine.hughes@baylorhealth.edu
office: (214) 820-7556
cell: (214) 755-0010

 

About Baylor Scott & White Health
As the largest not-for-profit health system in the state of Texas, Baylor Scott & White promotes the health and well-being of every individual, family and community it serves. It is committed to making quality care more accessible, convenient and affordable through its integrated delivery network, which includes the Baylor Scott & White Health Plan, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, the Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and its leading digital health platform – MyBSWHealth. Through 51 hospitals and more than 1,200 access points, including flagship academic medical centers in Dallas, Fort Worth and Temple, the system offers the full continuum of care, from primary to award-winning specialty care. Founded as a Christian ministry of healing more than a century ago, Baylor Scott & White today serves more than three million Texans. For more information, visit: BSWHealth.com