Prevention far better than cure: Lowering risk of complications from Diabetes

The Community Health Mission serves the working poor — those who are not eligible for Medicaid but who cannot afford private insurance or whose employers don’t offer a health care benefit. As many as 20% of CHM's patients are diabetic.

The Community Health Mission has a simple philosophy - they educate people with a simple formula of diet and exercise and in doing so, lowers the risk of complications from diabetes for example, amputations, heart attacks and strokes, and therefore the need for disability insurance. It also helps control costs and provides a better quality of life for the people most at risk.

It is said that 250 diabetics who develop complications can cost a community $1.7 million — and that’s not including the cost of lost productivity, disability and premature death.

Savannahians manage diabetes with Community Health Mission's simple formula of diet and exercise

Education is the first part of the program, armed with proper advice on what to eat and the importance of exercise, not only can people prevent complications arising from diabetes, those with adult onset diabetes can control and reduce the effects of the disease completely.