New Diabetes Education Center Open at Walgreen’s Central West End Location

Nimita Thekkepat, PharmD, MBA, a new faculty member at St. Louis College of Pharmacy, has opened a diabetes education service at the Walgreen’s on Lindell in the Central West End operating under the name Walgreen’s Wellness Center.  If you can help her, contact her at NThekkepat@stlcop.edu or 314-534-3829.  If you cannot help, send her an email welcoming her to St. Louis.  She recently moved here from Virginia. 

Mayor Francis Slay Proclaims ‘Diabetes Control Week’

As part of the major nationwide educational campaign Diabetes & You: Step It Up to Get It Down, life and fitness coach Bob Harper visited St. Louis on December 6th to encourage people with type 2 diabetes to better manage their disease. Harper and a panel of diabetes experts convened by the American Association of Clinical Edocrinologists (AACE) developed the easy-to-understand and motivational 6.5 Steps Toward Better Blood Sugar Control. The 6.5 Steps underscore the importance of reaching the AACE target A1C goal of 6.5% or less for most patients through the cornerstones of effective diabetes management — eating healthy, being physically active, monitoring blood sugar, seeing a doctor or other healthcare professional, and, when appropriate, taking one or more medicines. To encourage area residents to “Step It Up,” Mayor Francis Slay has declared the week of December 3rd to December 9th Diabetes Control Week” in St. Louis, dedicated to improving blood sugar control for people with type 2 diabetes.  Dr. Charles Kilo, Sr. said that the program is “a great tool to motivate patients to partner with their doctor or other healthcare professional to take better health choices and bring their blood sugar levels under control.” Anyone interested in learning more about 6.5 Steps Program can call 1-877-6-5-STEPS or visit http://www.stepitupdiabetes.com.

Ankle Brachial Test Equipment Available

If you need equipment for an ankle brachial test, then you are in luck.  Two doppler ultrasound heads were recently donated to the SLDC through the resourceful work of board member Steve Ernst of Bristol Myers Squibb.  FYI: The ankle brachial test screens for peripheral arterial disease of the legs. Call the SLDC to make arrangements to loan the equipment.