Terri Heningburg-Douglas
May 2018
Terri
Heningburg-Douglas
,
RN, BSN, APHN-BC
Integrated Case Management, Home Telehealth
Central Texas Veterans Health Care System
Temple
,
TX
United States

 

 

 

I called Terri and she was able to calm me down. She talked to me for over an hour. I was a mess. I was ready to quit. This was a situation I have never been in.
I am a retired Veteran. I was diagnosed with diabetes controlled by diet until last year. In November my diabetes took a turn for the worse and I was prescribed medication to control it. I joined the Telehealth program. I had to start medication and planned to attend the Martin Luther King program with my daughter, but did not feel well. I told my daughter I will rest in the car while you complete the march. I was in the car not feeling well and needed to use the bathroom. I decided to go home to use the bathroom. After using the bathroom, I decided I would check my blood sugar since it was about lunchtime. I took it and it was below 50. My husband immediately gave me orange juice and had me eat to get my blood sugar up. I started feeling better in about 30 minutes. I went back to the church for the remainder of the program. I talked to Terri Douglas, my telehealth nurse, and she provided me with guidance and suggestions. About a week later I was at work and had to walk to take some distribution over to the hospital. I started feeling bad when I returned to my office. I was sweating and feeling sick to my stomach. After checking my blood sugar, it was below 50. I started freaking out. I started eating and drinking orange juice. I felt extremely overwhelmed. I called Terri and she was able to calm me down. She talked to me for over an hour. I was a mess. I was ready to quit. This was a situation I have never been in. I am not used to having issues and I am blessed to have Ms. Terri Douglas to take care of me. Terri helped me realize that my blood sugar was dropping very low in the morning and I need to add protein to my diet and have a snack at 10 am. She also suggested that I discuss my condition with my boss and I have been doing well. I eat breakfast every morning and have my morning snack. I have met with pharmacy who changed the time I take my medicine. I would like to thank Terri for being there with me during my darkest moment.