Author: DW Admin

By: Danya Perez- Hernandez 

EDINBURG, Texas — The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is celebrating a $1 million contribution to the first clinic opened by the School of Medicine in the region.

The Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas made their second contribution to the university's Integrated Care Collaborative Unit at the John Austin Peña Memorial Center in Edinburg.

After an initial $500,000 grant to establish the clinic in January 2015, which aims to provide mental and rehabilitation services for high-risk youth, the new $1,065,510 grant will be used to fully kick off the services in 2016.

"Our mission is to improve the health of those least-served in mind body and spirit," said Anne Connor, director of community grants for Methodist Healthcare Ministries. "When we saw this project, which is about integrated care — integrating mental health and primary care — we thought it was a perfect fit for us."

To read full article by The Monitor, click here.

by Lisa Luna, Lifestyles Editor, Pleasanton Express

As a way of bringing attention to the ever-growing disease of diabetes, November is recognized nationwide as Diabetes Awareness Month.

On Monday, Nov. 23, one of the weekly installments in the "Do Well, Be Well with Diabetes" series was held at the Atascosa Health Center. The program focused on "Beyond the Diet: Improving Your Blood Glucose Control with Medication."

Linda Harper, a Methodist Healthcare Ministries' Wesley Nurse who serves at First United Methodist Church in Pleasanton and Dru Benavides, Family & Consumer Science County Agent with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, presented the informative session.

Understanding diabetes medication

Harper shared that whether it is to start pills, or to start insulin, you should not wait longer than 3 months if your glucose is out of the recommended range. Allowing high blood glucose while trying harder with diet and physical activity or pills when you need insulin raises the risk for complications.

She also emphasized that not being diagnosed as having diabetes does not protect you from accumulating damage and complications. Also, having high blood glucose and not feeling badly does not protect your from complications.

"High blood glucose takes a long time to produce symptoms that make you feel badly," said Harper. "The damage is due to a higher blood glucose that keeps adding up."

Harper also said that people's blood sugar levels affect them differently. In other words, some people can tell when their blood sugar is low. Then there are others with low levels who feel fine. This can be dangerous for situations in which the diabetic may be driving or say, walking alone in the park.

Some argue that they cannot take medication because it is too expensive. However, said Harper and Benavides, so are complications. There are prescription assistance programs and coupons available. Patients should let their doctor know if cost is a concern.

Insulin is added when the A1c level is over 7 percent or when blood glucose is consistently not within the recommended ranges.

"Don't want too long to start insulin. Too many wait," said Harper.

It was also recommended that diabetics, whether you are on insulin or not, wear an ID bracelet or necklace.

Meals away from home

Enjoying foods and meals away from home requires preparation and having a plan. When meals are delayed for more than one hour, have a carbohydrate choice snack, like a piece of fruit, at your regular mealtime. Later, eat the remaining carb choice at your delayed meal.

What if you are eating a meal earlier than usual? For early meals greater than one hour before your normal mealtime, eat few carbohydrate choices. Save either 1 to 2 carbohydrate choices for your regular mealtime.

Restaurant tips include making reservations at your usual mealtime, not being afraid to ask for substitutions and splitting a meal with a family member or friend or ask for a to-go container.

Benavides and Harper also presented visual guidelines on measurements. The palm of your hand is about the size of 3 ounces of meat. A woman's fist is about the size of a cup. A woman's cupped hand is about 1/4 cup and the tip of the thumb is almost 1 teaspoon.

There were also suggestions made on the topic of diabetes and alcohol. Do not consume alcohol on an empty stomach. Keep in mind that symptoms of low blood glucose are very similar to someone who has been drinking. Symptoms of low blood glucose may include hunger, headache, sudden moodiness, lack of coordination and blurred vision.

Alcohol can also impair your judgment and could cause you to miss meals or medications, which could possibly lead to more low blood glucose.

Diabetics are advised to keep a food log and record the blood glucose levels before eating breakfast and two hours after all meals.

The key is to remember that your doctor can provide expert advice and prescriptions, but you have to follow the advice.

Said Harper, "Keep your goal in mind and maintain your blood glucose in the recommended ranges."

On Monday, Nov. 30, the final class in this diabetes series was held at the Atascosa Health Center.

TYPES OF DIABETES

Diabetes is a problem with your body that causes blood glucose levels to rise higher than normal. This is also called hyperglycemia. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes.

TYPE 2: If you have type 2 diabetes your body does not use insulin properly. This is called insulin resistance. At first, your pancreas makes extra insulin to make up for it. But, over time it isn't able to keep up and can't make enough insulin to keep your blood glucose at normal levels.

TYPE 1: Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, and was previously known as juvenile diabetes. Only 5 percent of people with diabetes have this form of the disease. In type 1 diabetes, the body does not produce insulin. The body breaks down the sugars and starches you eat into a simple sugar called glucose, which it uses for energy. Insulin is a hormone that the body needs to get glucose from the bloodstream into the cells of the body. With the help of insulin therapy and other treatments, even young children can learn to manage their condition and live long, healthy lives.

GESTATIONAL DIABETES: During pregnancy – usually around the 24th week – many women develop gestational diabetes. A diagnosis of gestational diabetes doesn't mean that you had diabetes before you conceived, or that you will have diabetes after giving birth. But it's important to follow your doctor's advice regarding blood glucose (blood sugar) levels while you're planning your pregnancy, so you and your baby both remain healthy.

This article originally appeared in the Pleasanton Express. To view the orginal article, click here.

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SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS – Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc., a private, not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating access to health care for the uninsured through direct services, community partnerships and strategic grant-making, has joined efforts with the Dispensary of Hope, a national, charitable medication distributor, to offer uninsured patients in San Antonio access to prescription medication at no cost. The new partnership is expected to benefit approximately 1,500 patients served through Methodist Healthcare Ministries' medical practices.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries owns and operates two primary care clinics at two locations in San Antonio. The clinics address the medical, behavioral health and dental needs of patients who cannot afford health insurance; services are provided on a sliding-scale fee based upon ability to pay, household income and family size.

The Dispensary of Hope will provide Methodist Healthcare Ministries with generic and brand medication. The Dispensary of Hope distributes this product as a part of its mission to bridge the generosity of drug manufacturers and health systems and the community spirit of charitable dispensing sites with the healthcare needs of the uninsured.

Over 1,000 practices across the United States donate surplus brand medication to the Dispensary of Hope through the campaign and have donated over $150 million (Average Wholesale Price) in medication. The Dispensary of Hope distributes the medication it receives domestically across its network of partners which include federally qualified health centers, free clinics, charitable community and outpatient pharmacies, and state central access programs, all licensed to dispense medication.

"The partnership with the Dispensary of Hope is going to fill a tremendous need for the unfunded patients served at our medical practices. It's a wonderful opportunity for our patients and we feel especially blessed to share this good news at a time when we all come together to celebrate all we are thankful for," says Methodist Healthcare Ministries' Chief Operating Officer, George Thomas. "The need for a program like this is tremendous—not just in Bexar County but across South Texas as we have some of the poorest cities in the United States just south of San Antonio. My hope is that more programs like the Dispensary of Hope would be available in those communities to help low-income families and the uninsured take care of their health needs."

Methodist Healthcare Ministries' Wesley Health & Wellness Center, which serves San Antonio's South Side community, is now part of a network of health centers in Texas serving as Dispensary of Hope access sites.

The partnership with the Dispensary of Hope will help approximately 1,500 patients served at Methodist Healthcare Ministries' medical practices in Bexar County.

Christopher Palombo, CEO of the Dispensary of Hope states "Access to surplus medication has the amazing impact of reducing healthcare costs, increasing access to medication, and improving patient health outcomes. We at the Dispensary of Hope appreciate the generosity of the drug manufacturing community, and the stewardship ethic among our donating physician practices who work to assist the patients of charitable clinics and pharmacies such as Wesley Health & Wellness Center."

To qualify for medical services at Methodist Healthcare Ministries' Wesley Health & Wellness Center, patients must meet certain eligibility criterion. To learn more, call the Wesley Health & Wellness Center at (210) 922-6922.

About Dispensary of Hope

The Dispensary of Hope, established in 2003 by Dr. Bruce Wolf, currently serves over 80 communities and 40,000 patients nationwide. Formed as a national collaborative effort which includes remarkable participation from donor drug manufacturers, health systems, clinics, pharmacies, supporting foundations, and many other engaged leaders, its role is to transform medication access through collaborative leadership. The Dispensary of Hope's programs serve drug manufacturers and health systems with an efficient and compliant way to donate medication, avoiding costly destruction while serving those in need. The Dispensary of Hope collaborative effort is hosted by Saint Thomas Health in Nashville, Tennessee, a member of St. Louis-based Ascension Health, the nation's largest nonprofit health system and lead funder for the Dispensary of Hope project. For more information, visit: www.dispensaryofhope.org.

About Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc.

Methodist Healthcare Ministries of South Texas, Inc. is a private, faith-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing medical, dental and health-related human services to low-income families and the uninsured in South Texas. The mission of the organization is "Serving Humanity to Honor God" by improving the physical, mental and spiritual health of those least served in the Rio Texas Conference area of The United Methodist Church. The mission also includes Methodist Healthcare Ministries' one-half ownership of the Methodist Healthcare System, the largest healthcare system in South Texas, which creates a unique avenue to ensure that it continues to be a benefit to the community by providing quality care to all and charitable care when needed. For more information, visit www.mhm.org.