Center offers help for managing diabetes Diabetes affects nearly 30 million Americans each day, and that number is growing. To manage this chronic condition that requires long-term treatment, patients diagnosed with diabetes must commit to thorough education and control of the disease. “Diabetes is the seventh leading killer in the U.S.,” says Dr. Sherri Vaughn of Total Family Care, noting that 9.3 percent of our population is diabetic. “It’s a huge issue — not just locally, but nationally.” At LMH, providers work with patients, such as Lawrence resident Amy Tharp, 46, to manage their conditions. Since being diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes 20 years ago, Tharp has battled the frustrations that can accompany the condition. “It’s never ending. It doesn’t matter what you do. You can do everything perfectly, be eating right, be checking your blood sugars, but if you are sick or you’re stressed out, your sugars will be sky high and you’re just trying to figure out: OK, I’m eating right, I’m doing all these things, why are my sugars so high? It’s frustrating,” she says. Avoiding ebbs and flows in willpower can be difficult, Tharp says. But she has found that she tends to do better when working closely with providers at the Diabetes Education Center. Three certified diabetes educators — an advance-practice nurse, a registered nurse and a dietician — work at the center to support the rising numbers of diabetics in the community. “Looking at the statistics, we know that the number of people with diabetes is going up,” says Pat Hohman, RN, of the Diabetes Education Center. Patients referred to the center by LMH endocrinologist Dr. Amanjot Lehil and other physicians typically need education or support following a diabetes diagnosis. Through small-group, in-depth classes, patients learn about disease management and complications, as well as the importance of diet, carbohydrate counting and glucose monitoring. Over the long term, patients work with their physicians and the center to monitor their disease. “If you have a good control of diabetes, you decrease your chances of complications,” Dr. Lehil says.
In 2014, Lawrence Memorial Hospital added a piece of technology to help inpatients who are diabetic. The EndoTool uses information about patients — such as age, weight and disease severity — to determine how much insulin a patient should receive. This computer-guided blood-glucose management system also predicts and adapts future doses. The LMH Endowment Association financed this $30,000 equipment purchase. Dr. Marc Scarbrough, an LMH hospitalist, says the EndoTool has helped staff members help patients. “We’ve demonstrated that it controls sugars quickly and effectively,” he says. “I think it’s been a really valuable addition to provide guidance for the nurses instead of us guessing. It’s been a good tool for patients who need an insulin drip.”
At your service: Endocrinologist joins LMH staff Lawrence Memorial Hospital can now tout the arrival of a full-time endocrinologist. Dr. Amanjot Lehil recently chose LMH for his first full-time position in the field of endocrinology. “Endocrinology is the study of hormones and the related glands, which includes conditions like diabetes, thyroid problems and adrenal problems, and also things like osteoporosis,” Dr. Lehil says. As a branch of internal medicine practitioners, endocrinologists work to correct or alleviate health problems brought on by hormonal imbalances. Patients may be referred to an endocrinologist for a variety of health conditions, including diabetes, thyroid issues, metabolic or cholesterol disorders, osteoporosis and secondary hypertension. By bringing his expertise to LMH, Dr. Lehil is contributing to LMH’s determination to provide high-quality health care at the local level. Dr. Lehil, who recently finished a two-year fellowship in endocrinology at the University of Kansas, was attracted to the specialty during his internal medicine residency. “Endocrinology really requires understanding of the functioning and regulation of hormones in the body,” he says. His contribution to the hospital should enhance holistic medical care, especially in the field of diabetes treatment. Nearly 10 percent of the U.S. population are people with diabetes. “The endocrinology part is really another piece that has been missing to make this a complete medical facility. I think it’ll be a resource our community has been lacking for a while now,” says LMH hospitalist Dr. Marc Scarbrough, head of the glucose control committee at LMH. The LMH Diabetes Education Center and the Lawrence endocrinology clinic collaborate to ensure that patients with diabetes receive an optimal, wellrounded approach to managing their conditions. “Education is an integral part of the treatment for diabetes,” Dr. Lehil says. “I enjoy developing long-term relationships with patients with chronic medical conditions like diabetes. I find it very rewarding.” LMH is equally excited to offer his endocrinology expertise to Lawrence. “We’re just really thrilled that Dr. Lehil is here, not just from a diabetes perspective, but also for treatment of thyroid disorders and osteoporosis,” says Dr. Sherri Vaughn, a physician with Total Family Care. “It’s a great asset to have that expertise here.” Lawrence Endocrinology Clinic is located at 1130 W. 4th Street, Suite 3200. The phone number is 785-505-5885. —by Margo Bogossian and Molly Norburg
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