Diabetes/Internal Medcine

Diabetes in the United States is ranked No. 7 in the leading cause of death. For community member Jean Acre, she has been battling this disease for 20 years now.

“I have been on the wagon, off the wagon, and back on again. My health was out of control.”

Jean became a patient of Internal Medicine physician Dr. Fazlani at Decatur County Primary Care in January 2017.

“My A1C was in the nines. A normal A1C is anywhere below seven. My blood pressure was sky high and my stress was off the charts. I was a total mess.”

Dr. Fazlani immediately switched her medications and changed her insulin intake. That is when things started to change.

Jean began having regular appointments with Dr. Fazlani, as well as completing the Diabetes classes with Nurse Sandy Bush and Dietician Holly Pray.

After completing the program and meeting with her physician regularly, Jean’s last appointment showcased all of her hard work.

“My A1C was 6.2. My blood pressure was back to normal and my stress has gone down. I am back in total control!”

“Dr. Fazlani told me at my last appointment that when he saw me in January, he thought it was going to take a year to a year and a half to get me back under control. He said I have done it in 6 months and he was so proud of me. He said he was totally, totally amazed. Then he gave me a great big hug.”

Jean has been asked to be a Diabetes Champion and mentor patients who are currently going through the classes and support groups. “I love being able to help people because I know what it is like. I know what the patient is thinking and feeling. I have been there.”

Jean tries to share her success story with as many people as she can. “If I can talk to someone and just make one person understand that I know what they are going through and help them, it would be worth it.”

After the awesome week she has had and all of her amazing progress she has made, Jean celebrated by buying herself a new ford escape.

“It was so pretty and I was so happy. I had dreamed about that car after I saw it so I had to get it.”

Jean cannot thank DCMH enough for helping her get her life back.

“I would not be here having this conversation if it wasn’t for this hospital. Plain and simple. I have never been to a hospital that is so community driven and focused. The people here are fantastic. I feel great and could not have done any of this if it wasn’t for Dr. Fazlani and his staff, and also Sandy and Holly.”

Participating in education is one of the most important things you can do for yourself if you have been diagnosed with diabetes. Diabetes classes offered at DCMH are designed to teach you and your family more about the disease and how to implement lifestyle changes to avoid complications.

For more information about our Diabetes Education classes or Dr. Fazlani, visit our website at dcmh.net.

Jean - Decatur County