The PVMC Diabetes Program

Established in 2006, the clinic’s diabetes (Diabetus mellitus, or DM) program is a gift to the community, offering many free and low cost services. The program serves anyone who is touched by diabetes, both patients and family members, and those at risk for developing diabetes. Diabetes effects one-in-ten people in New Mexico, it’s possible to get diabetes at any age, and it tends to run in families. Hispanics are at particularly high risk.

Anyone who comes to the clinic can be asked to be screened for diabetes. It is free, fast, and safe. And before we go on, we need to assure you that diabetes treatment has come a long way in recent years. It has never been easier to keep diabetes from hurting you, so don’t be afraid to be checked!

Early on, diabetes has no symptoms at all, but once out-of-control, common symptoms include unquenchable thirst, frequent urination – especially during the night, irritability, fatigue, and blurry vision. These symptoms tend to sneak up on people gradually over time.

Beyond screening, our program offers free education, counseling, and support for both pre-diabetic and diabetic patients. We also offer assistance with free blood sugar testing meters and low-cost test strips, as well as assistance with low cost DM medications for those who are uninsured or underinsured.

Our diabetes education services are both one-on-one and small group; and can serve either patients or their family members. For members of the local communities who have difficulty with mobility or transportation, we offer home visits.

Diabetes Program Coordinator Lee Dubois, himself a Type-1 Diabetic, likes to compare diabetes to a tiger. He asks patients, “Can you have a pet tiger? Sure you can. As long as you feed it well, groom it, and never turn your back on it, you can coexist with a tiger in your living room. But if you neglect the tiger, starve it, turn your back on it – the tiger will pounce on you and tear you to shreds. Diabetes is the tiger. Feed it right. Take care of it right. And the two of you will live just fine together.”

Lee, our in-house "tiger tamer," is the author of three diabetes books, serves on numerous state boards, and is a Community Faculty member for the UNM Health Science Center’s Project ECHO, where he works on a variety of state-wide diabetes programs.

Am I at risk? Take our Diabetes Risk Test to find out.

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