Founders Trish Freshwater (left) and Bonnie Wheeler (right) are recognized for their efforts at the September meeting.

Diabetes Support Group at Bay Valley Medical Group Celebrates 20 years of education, acceptance and TLC Founders of support group reflect on organization’s positive impacts at 200th meeting Hayward, CA (Sept. 23, 2011) – Bay Valley Medical Group’s Diabetic Support Group celebrated 20 years and its 200th meeting last week, the longest running diabetes support group in Alameda County. The group has served as a primary resource for education and support for members going through diabetic management and counseling.

Over 20 years ago, founders Bonnie Wheeler and Trish Freshwater of Bay Valley Medical Group became friends after striking up a conversation inquiring about each other’s medical bracelets. “Trish was the first person I had met with diabetes besides myself. It was very isolating at that time going through everything alone,” said Bonnie Wheeler, manager of customer service for Bay Valley Medical Group. After a year of confiding in each other, Bonnie and Trish realized there were many other people who were in need of this kind of support.

The American Diabetes Association reports that over 25 million adults and children in the United States have diabetes. Proper education, awareness, and treatment are imperative to keep glucose levels under control when living with diabetes. Since the disease impacts every aspect of daily life, members of the group in Hayward have strengthen their treatment programs and friendships by confiding in each other.

“If I am having trouble holding a syringe and sticking myself as a nurse, imagine what it is like not having a medical background and learning to treat your diabetes,” said Trish Freshwater, podiatry nurse at Bay Valley Medical Group.

The two women have been organizing monthly meetings at Bay Valley Medical Group that address key issues in coping with the disease. Doctors through out the county have referred patients to the group for both the educational and emotional support it provides.

“As a physician, I have noticed that my diabetic patients who join a support group have better controlled diabetes,” said Bay Valley Medical Group physician Jaya Karnani. “They are much less likely to have complications associated with diabetes and are also more eager to make good lifestyle choices. They eat healthier and exercise more – usually with other patients they meet at a support group.”

The multi-pronged approach combines providing accurate medical information with sharing personal experiences and offering friendly sounding boards. “We try to provide social and emotional support. People think that they have diabetes because they ate too much, or aren’t looking out for their health, when usually diabetes is genetic,” said Freshwater. “Here we can help with even the smallest things, and we look at what we can do to make it better.”

The Diabetes Support Group is free of charge and open to the public with no insurance or physician recommendation needed. For more information contact Bay Valley Medical Group’s customer service department at (510) 785-5000 or info@bvmed.com for meeting dates and times.

Bay Valley Medical Group is one of the most established multi-specialty group practices in the Bay Area having served Alameda and Contra Costa Counties since 1954. Bay Valley Medical Group offers four convenient clinic sites in Hayward, Castro Valley, Danville and Pleasanton as well as with 350 affiliate physician offices representing a broad array of specialties throughout the East Bay Area. For more information please phone customer service at 510-785-5000.