With more people being diagnosed with diabetes at younger ages or needing emergency care for acute diabetic episodes, LCMC Health is working to expand its reach throughout the New Orleans area to provide more education, access to health care and resources for long-term wellness and medical management.

CJ Marbley, Chief Nursing Officer at New Orleans East Hospital, said that in addition to seeing more diagnoses of Type 2 diabetes among people in their 30s and 40s, LCMC Health hospitals have also seen an uptick in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis. The condition occurs when a person's body doesn't have enough insulin to allow blood sugar to be used as energy. Instead, the liver breaks down fat for fuel in a process that produces acids called ketones. When the body produces too many ketones too quickly, they can build up to dangerous levels. This can result in symptoms such as rapid breathing, headaches, muscle stiffness, vomiting, extreme fatigue and more.

"It's a major concern for us because these symptoms can hit someone at any time. They could be alone at home, driving their car, or in a situation where medical help is not readily available. It's a life-threatening moment if they don't seek care quickly," said Marbley. "We see people who have not been diagnosed with diabetes until they come to the ER, and their numbers are off the charts."

Marbley said diabetic ketoacidosis can often be prevented when people see a primary care physician for routine visits and have testing done to evaluate their blood sugar levels and other key health indicators. However, he noted that many people do not attend these routine visits for a number of reasons, including fear, feeling there is no need to see a doctor, costs or lack of transportation.

To help close that gap, LCMC Health has mobile teams who regularly host community outreach and screening events throughout New Orleans. This work is intended to connect with residents who may not otherwise see a health care provider.

"For many communities in our region, regular checkups are not a normal part of their lives. We have to bring that routine back, especially for men," said Marbley. "It really comes down to a mindset change. Our community teams really work with people to let them know that they deserve quality health care and that there are places here to receive it."

Those teams also educate people to be aware of common diabetes symptoms, which can include increased thirst, increased urination, and in some cases, nausea or sweating. Marbley said those can often be attributed to the weather, stress or other factors if someone is not undergoing regular lab work to assess their blood sugar.

"The other thing we tell people in the community is that diabetes makes every other disease worse," Marbley said. "If we can help people prevent or manage diabetes, it can also help reduce the severity of heart disease, liver disease, kidney disease and other conditions. If you have one of those in addition to diabetes, the chance of having a severe illness goes up quite a bit. When we can attack diabetes early and help people manage it, we are helping other disease processes as well."

In addition, Marbley said LCMC Health teams are working to educate people about better nutrition choices, since poor dietary habits are one of the main risk factors for diabetes. The New Orleans East Hospital Healthy You, Healthy Me initiative partners with six local restaurants to offer diabetes-friendly menu options. LCMC Health also has nutritionists who provide education on how people can cook their Cajun and Creole favorites in healthier ways.

"We all know Louisiana has the best food in the country, but that food is not always prepared in a way that is the most heart-healthy or diabetes-friendly," he said. "Our nutritionists are great about showing people different ways to still enjoy some of their favorites by using different ingredients or cooking methods. It's also important to us as a health system to look at communities with a high prevalence of diabetes and see if there are food deserts there. We often hear about people who buy processed foods at the nearby store because it's cheap, close and available. The problem is that it's not healthy. We must look at how we can provide more nutritious options and fresh foods for those residents."

LCMC Health's outreach work to address diabetes also has a significant educational component. Classes at East Jefferson General Hospital, New Orleans East Hospital and Touro offer information about blood glucose monitoring, exercise benefits, meal planning, medication management, stress management and more. Marbley said one area of emphasis is that diabetes can be well-controlled after diagnosis.

"You can live a long, productive life with diabetes if you are on the right medication and make certain lifestyle and diet changes," he said. "It's certainly possible to take control of diabetes and manage it once you know about it. It all starts with knowing about your own health and having somebody to provide your primary care and check your body every year."

Visit www.lcmchealth.org/our-services/diabetes-care/ to learn more about LCMC Health diabetes resources, find a provider or schedule an appointment.