Press Release

May 06 , 2004
For Immediate Release

Contact: Susan deQueljoe
office: (602) 850-6755
cell: (602) 421-9543
e-mail: SdeQueljoe@svdp-phx-az.org

St. Vincent de Paul Addressing Pre-Diabetes Risk

Free Medical Clinic Focus on Education and Prevention

PHOENIX, AZ - Beginning in March 2004, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul's Free Medical Clinic established a new pre-diabetes project. Although it is still in its pilot phase, the project has already identified 61 patients who will participate. Ironically, these patients came to SVdP's Clinic for other medical reasons.

Since the onset of diabetes can be delayed or even prevented through lifestyle changes, the pre-diabetes pilot project focuses on education and prevention. As Janice Ertl, Director of St. Vincent de Paul's Free Medical and Virginia G. Piper Dental Clinic, explains, "Our challenge is to engage patient participation and commitment to make changes in their diets and exercise patterns. The project is designed to help people change their attitudes as well as their behaviors. Both aspects need to be addressed if the project is to succeed."

Identifying people who are at-risk for diabetes has become even more crucial since the American Diabetes Association in November changed the definition of normal blood sugar levels from 110 to below 100 milligrams. Now, anyone with a fasting glucose of 100-125 is classified as pre-diabetic. (Millions more pre-diabetic than previously estimated, Lauran Neergaard, Associated Press, April 29, 2004)

One out of every four medical visits to SVdP's Free Medical Clinic is diabetes-related. This statistic is surprising considering 75% of SVdP medical patients are under 40 years of age.

'Although we see a great deal of diabetic patients, we are aware that many more are at risk and will have full-blown diabetes if not addressed,' says Janice Ertl. 'We have a duty, as a non-profit organization to intervene when we knew we could help.'

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul's Free Medical Clinic provides care to under-insured, low-income individuals and families who are ineligible for government-assisted healthcare programs. The Clinic is staffed primarily by volunteers from the Phoenix healthcare community. The Clinic's Diabetes program has been in place for five years.

The Free Medical and Virginia G. Piper Dental Clinic is located at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul's Dan O'Meara Campus, 420 W. Watkins Rd, Phoenix. To contact the Clinic, please call 602.261.6868.