At 85 years old, Barbara Andersen expects to face health challenges.  She underwent open heart surgery after a heart attack in 2001 and has struggled to maintain her wellness ever since.  After a series of tests, Barbara learned she had diabetes and would need to self-inject insulin to maintain her blood sugar level.  In 2020, she began experiencing dizziness and weakness.  The health concerns progressively worsened, but Barbara had no idea what was happening.

One morning, Barbara woke to find she could not move very well.  She felt so weak that she could barely raise herself up from her bed.  She struggled to reach her phone and call her daughter, who arrived quickly and began giving Barbara orange juice.  After a short time, Barbara felt better and realized she was experiencing hypoglycemia – a condition in which the blood sugar level is lower than normal.  Blood sugar, or glucose, is the body’s main energy source.  The next morning, Barbara again suffered a case of hypoglycemia, and passed out.  Her daughter encouraged her to discuss the issue with her primary care physician, Talya R. Greathouse, M.D., of Licking Memorial Family Practice – West Main.  Dr. Greathouse recommended that Barbara visit the Licking Memorial Hospital Medication Therapy Clinic where the staff – which includes pharmacists, nurses and dietitians – assist in creating a treatment plan, and provide education about correct dosing and the signs and symptoms of complications caused by medications.

In September 2020, Barbara had her first appointment at the Clinic.  At the time, she was on a fairly high dosage of basal insulin and needed a rapid-acting insulin as well.  Basal insulins provide a steady amount of background insulin activity over the course of a day.  “The staff at the Clinic all were very friendly and so helpful,” Barbara said.  “They asked me many questions to try to determine why I was experiencing such drastic highs and lows in my blood sugar levels.”  

During the discussion, Barbara confessed she was injecting her insulin shots into her groin.  “Someone I knew once told me she developed hard lumps in her stomach from the insulin injections, and I did not want that to happen to me,” she said.  The Clinic staff explained that injecting into the groin was leading to poor insulin absorption.  They offered her education on the proper technique and ways to avoid hypertrophy – the overgrowth of cells, usually fat cells, that makes the skin look lumpy.
 
The Clinic staff also were concerned about the incidents of hypoglycemia.  Barbara seemed most susceptible to drops in glucose while she slept.  In order to assist Barbara in managing the lows, staff members worked to acquire an integrated continuous glucose monitoring system for her.  The device, worn on the arm, checks glucose levels with a painless, one-second scan instead of having to perform a fingerstick.  It also includes alarms that notify the wearer if blood sugar is too low or too high.  The alarms wake Barbara during the night if she needs to make a blood sugar adjustment.  “The nurses worked very hard to obtain the device for me.  It has been a lifesaver and made a difference in how I manage my diabetes,” Barbara said.  “I am feeling more successful about my own care, and I want to make the changes because I know taking the proper precautions will please the Clinic staff.”

Barbara visits the Clinic every six weeks.  She has reduced her basil insulin dosage by over half, stopped taking the rapid-acting insulin, and reduced her A1C level.  A1C refers to a minor component of hemoglobin – the oxygen-carrying protein that gives blood its red color.  “Everyone at the Clinic is focused on assuring I am following the proper guidelines for my medication and overall wellbeing,” Barbara said.  “They have been great to me, and I’m so thankful for their attention and care they take to ensure I have all the tools I need to be successful.”  Referrals to the Medication Therapy Clinic are accepted from Licking Memorial Endocrinology and primary care physicians.

In keeping with COVID-19 restrictions, Barbara has spent much of her time at home over the past year.  She was very excited to return to church and spend time with her family.  Barbara moved to Granville in 1972 after her husband had been transferred to the area for his job.  The couple had traveled to a number of different states and considered Colorado their home.  However, they both loved the Granville area and decided to stay even after retirement.  Her daughter, Sharon Phelps, moved with the family to Ohio and also made it her home.  Sharon earned her bachelor and master degrees from The Ohio State University and currently serves as a financial advisor.  Her sons, Robert and David, graduated from Granville Exempted Village Schools.  Robert also earned his degree from Ohio State and is now retired from Holophane.  David earned his degree from Kent State and is employed with Cleveland.com reporting mostly on the Browns.  Barbara also has three grandchildren.