Walter Reed provides individualized diabetic care management

Official Statements

• Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, November 12: “By Bernard S. Little Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Hospital Communications”

• Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, November 12: “Walter Reed National Military Medical Center encourages people to learn about diabetes as it provides Military Health System (MHS) beneficiaries individualized care management for those at risk for or diagnosed with the disease. “We have a Diabetes Center of Excellence (CoE) with clinical care and American Diabetes Association (ADA) accredited diabetes educational classes,” stated U.S. Army Lt. Col. (Dr.) Nicole Vietor, an endocrinologist who serves as program director for the National Capital Consortium Endocrinology Fellowship Program at Walter Reed and product line chair for National Capital Region Endocrinology.”

• Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, November 12: “The Endocrinology team along with other services at Walter Reed tailor healthcare to each person's needs with shared decision-making to meet the individual’s glycemic and health targets to manage type 1, type 2 and other forms of diabetes, according to the staff. Dr. Deirdre Smith, an endocrinology nurse practitioner and certified diabetic educator at Walter Reed, explained that diabetes can impact military readiness if it hinders a service member’s ability to deploy.”

• Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, November 12: “Both the disease, if not well controlled, and certain diabetes medications can cause incapacitation if not managed properly,” Smith stated. “That said, those service members meeting glycemic targets and demonstrate glycemic stability may request a waiver from the combatant commander in area of responsibility (AOR) which would allow for the deployment.” Diabetes prevention and management involve a multifaceted approach, including nutrition, regular physical activity, blood sugar monitoring, medications, and stress control to govern blood glucose levels and prevent complications, Smith explained.”

• Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, November 12: “High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, occurs on a continuum with a range from normal to impaired, or prediabetes, to diabetes,” Smith continued. Type 1, most often identified in children and young adults, is an absolute insulin deficiency, she added.”

• Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, November 12: “Through research we know that prediabetes and type 2 diabetes are not separate conditions but part of an evolving process of abnormal glucose,” Smith said. Prediabetes is when blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not yet high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. “If not properly managed and controlled, diabetes can result in life-altering and costly micro- and macro-vascular complications.”

• Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, November 12: “One of the main risk factors for developing pre-diabetes/type 2 DM is excessive body mass, which causes insulin resistance,” Smith explained. “People with obesity, the most common risk factor for developing the disease, have a three times higher risk of developing [it].”

• Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, November 12: “Screening for diabetes is generally done using specific blood tests and is important because oftentimes people with the disease are not aware they have it until there is organ damage, Smith said. “This is why it’s important to develop and maintain healthy habits, schedule routine health exams, and learn the risk factors and symptoms of high blood sugar.”

• Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, November 12: “According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National Diabetes Statistics Report, an estimated 40.1 million people (about 12% of the U.S. population) are affected by diagnosed or undiagnosed diabetes. The CDC also estimates that more than 115 million people (or about 2 in 5 adults 18 and above) in the United States are affected by prediabetes.”

• Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, November 12: “Other diabetes preventive and management measures include visiting an eye doctor for a dilated exam, having your feet examined by a qualified provider, keeping your blood pressure and cholesterol levels in control, and keeping up with routine laboratory procedures on a regular basis. “We understand the impact of receiving a diagnosis of diabetes and recognize the challenges imposed to control it,” said Smith.”

• Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, November 12: “There are many resources in the MHS to help our patients, for example, other specialty services such as optometry, nephrology, nutrition and behavioral health, the Army Wellness Center as well as new and ever improving technology. As much as the burden lies upon the patients to create lifestyle change, self-administer medication and monitor blood glucose levels, we are here to support and report that by implementing [healthy habits and management] one can expect and enjoy improved health outcomes.”

• Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, November 12: “For more information at Walter Reed, MHS beneficiaries can call Endocrinology at (301) 295-5165, or for appointments call (855) 227-6331.”