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S P I R I T O F W O M E N FA L L 2 014 w w w. s p i r i t o f w o m e n . c o m
U . S . H O S P I T A L R E P O R T
M
ore than ever, a diabetes patient is in the
driver's seat to control how much the disease
will impact his or her life, say experts.
The serious complications of diabetes that
used to be commonplace—such as blindness
and kidney and foot problems—are rarer today, says
Dr. Joseph B. Hawkins Jr., an endocrinologist affiliated with
Saint Agnes Medical Center, Fresno, Calif.
"There has been a gradual but steady development of
new tools, which has been driven by an increasing under-
standing of the biology of diabetes," he says. "It has allowed
us to develop more targeted approaches that focus on the
root cause of diabetes."
And as awareness about the disease increases, diabetes
is being detected earlier, allowing treatment to begin before
serious complications occur, says Dr. Hawkins.
Sweet
success
New ways to manage diabetes
By Beth Hertz
To find a Spirit of Women affiliated hospital, including
a local resource for diabetes care, go to pages 12-13.