Angie Dalosio, who works in the McLeod Echo lab, happily says that her mother is finding a new lease on life since she received your help with a McLeod Foundation diabetes educational scholarship. Rhonda Grice, Angie’s mother, has had diabetes since age 10. Rhonda has been on insulin since age 18 when she was hospitalized for three days in a coma. Since that time, she has raised two healthy children and now has five grandchildren. She was healthy as long as she had medical insurance to help pay for her medication, physician and diabetes equipment. But several years ago, her husband had a stroke and he had to go on disability. Rhonda had no insurance for the first time. She did manage to purchase her supplies to monitor her blood sugar and did buy insulin to take during this difficult time but it took a toll on her health. Diabetes has affected Rhonda’s eyes (retinopathy) and her heart. Rhonda suffered a heart attack in 2005 and had a heart bypass surgery.

The McLeod Diabetes Center staff met Rhonda, and Angie, when Rhonda was admitted with more heart problems in January this year. We found that she had no medical resources, except her physician. Our diabetes educators informed Rhonda about various programs to assist people without insurance with medication. She was pleased to hear that she qualified for a diabetes educational scholarship and started out-patient diabetes self-management sessions at the McLeod Diabetes Center. The certified diabetes educators worked closely with Rhonda and her physician to enable her to attain the best insulin regime to control her diabetes, maintain her blood sugar monitor supplies and medications. The diabetes educational scholarship meant that Rhonda could receive educational services and supplies without a charge. These scholarships are available to persons who do not have medical insurance and who qualify by application.

Angie says that her mother is feeling better than she has in years. Rhonda excitedly says that her diabetes is more controlled and that her eyesight has improved. Rhonda has not been admitted to the hospital again. She is keeping her physician and education appointments and enjoys spending quality time with her grandchildren at home. 

Diabetes is often a family illness and three of Rhonda’s grandchildren also have diabetes – one has type 1 diabetes, like Rhonda. What Rhonda is learning about diabetes is being shared with her whole family so, perhaps, her grandchildren will not develop the complications of diabetes in their lifetime. Rhonda hopes that her grandchildren will have a better quality of life. She says “the diabetes educators at the McLeod Diabetes Center have helped me more than other professionals have in the past”. Please consider a donation to the McLeod Foundation for more diabetes educational scholarships. One of your family members may need it soon.

To learn more about McLeod Diabetes Center click here.