Kidney health clinic supports client self-management
With the support of the SHA’s kidney health clinic, a Regina client finally feels like she is making meaningful change on the road to diabetes self-management.
A borderline diabetic in 2002, Marcia admits self-denial saw her health quickly decline. “I ignored the diagnosis until I needed insulin in 2005,” she said. With diabetes considered to be the leading cause of kidney disease in Canada, Marcia added that the long-term effects of disregarding her symptoms have caused irreparable damage to her kidneys. “I would make small changes then fall off the wagon. I really didn’t care if I lived or died from diabetes.”
Marcia’s focus started to shift with the support of certified diabetes educator (CDE) Laurelle Pachal and a glucose monitoring system. Through the monitoring system, Pachal identifies areas of concern that Marcia can work toward changing to improve her health.
Connections to a social worker, dietitian, and nursing staff and a referral to the 12-week diabetes rehab exercise program have also been beneficial. “She told me that referral saved her life,” Pachal said. “It’s been amazing to watch the improvement in her diabetes management. She has made huge gains.”
It takes a village, in the form of a multidisciplinary team, to provide kidney health patients with the support they need to successfully manage their condition. The Regina Kidney Health Clinic staff includes (top photo, back row, left to right): Kathy Sherling, registered nurse (RN); Leslie Punga, RN; Karen Karst, registered dietitian (RD); Lindsay Cuthbertson, pharmacist; Clayton Young, pharmacist; (front row, left to right) Charmaine Norbert, social worker; Lexie Schiller Volk, RD; Laurelle Pachal, certified diabetes educator (CDE); Shanda Boehm, manager; Deborah Norton, RN; Megan Bell, administrator; Julie Toppings, pharmacist; and Sharisee Kushniruk, RD. The Saskatoon Kidney Health clinic staff include (bottom photo, back row, left to right): Arjone Arnaiz, RN; Britney Schimpf, diabetes nurse educator (DNE); Cheryl Fransoo, RN; Mary Gilo, RN; (front row, left to right) Sara Frank, medical office assistant (MOA); Carol Smith, RN; Myrna McDiarmid, RD; and Sara Leray, pharmacist.