GVMH Foundation Diabetes Walk Assists Patients

Stefanie Fiss of Lowry City knows first hand about how the Golden Valley Memorial Hospital Foundation assists patients.  Stefanie has been diagnosed with gestational diabetes during her two pregnancies. Gestational diabetes is diagnosed in pregnant women around 28 weeks who have high blood sugar levels during their pregnancy.  If left untreated it could harm the baby. There are 135,000 cases of gestational diabetes in the United States every year.

Through assistance from the GVMH Foundation, Stefanie was able to attend Diabetes Skills and Self Management classes.  Because insurance would not cover the cost of sessions with a dietitian Stefanie was not able to pay. The GVMH Foundation covered the cost of the dietitian visits so that Stefanie could get the care she needed.  During classes, Stefanie learned about portion control and how controlling gestational diabetes could help her baby. Stefanie told us,  “I didn’t know that the baby absorbed the extra sugar until I took the classes.

Every year the GVMH foundation hosts the Diabetes Walk to help raise funds for people just like Stephanie.  The walk is scheduled for Saturday, March 27, 2010 at the GVMH Medical Plaza. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the walk will begin at 9:00 a.m. All proceeds for the walk will go to the GVMH foundation to help with education, medication, glucose test strips or other medical care related to diabetes. Team Captains and volunteers are needed.  For more information, call at 660-885-2253 ext. 6081.