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8
MANAGING DIABETES
By Andrea Nagel
Five years
ago Bobbie Brown was
diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
She met with her physician
in Chico, California, and they
came up with a care plan trying
various medications, but nothing
seemed to help. She couldn’t eat
anything without feeling terrible
and lost over 30 pounds. Feeling
discouraged she sought a second
opinion from an endocrinologist.
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A N E W D I A G N O S I S
After doing several tests, her
endocrinologist determined that
she actually has type 1 diabetes,
which meant a completely different
treatment plan would need to be in
place to get her back on track.
“Frequently patients with
diabetes are frustrated when they
have been trying very hard to
manage their condition and aren’t
seeing the results they had hoped
for,” Breanna Bergeron, Kootenai
Clinic diabetes educator, said. “It’s
a relief for patients to know that
there are many options available
when treating diabetes. It is our job
to work with the patient to find the
one that works best for them and
that they can be the most success-
ful with.”
Breanna has been working with
Bobbie and her husband, Pat, since
they moved to northern Idaho a few
years ago. Breanna helps Bobbie
develop meal plans, dial in her