Veterans’ Health Today
Winter 2007
Diabetes Q & A

Q:  I’ve just been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.  I knew it ran in my family, and I’m angry because I didn’t take better care of myself over the years.  Are my feelings normal, and how can I turn that anger around?

A:  A diabetes diagnosis may trigger unexpected emotions.  While feeling angry or blaming yourself is normal, it isn’t helpful.  Genetics plays a large part in diabetes and your genes are a fact of life.  If a family member had diabetes complications and lost a limb, became blind or required dialysis, your risk of those complications may be higher.  But with proper care and management of your diabetes, you can beat those odds and avoid the same thing happening to you.
Rather than look back at what you might have done differently, it’s more productive to recognize that you’re better off knowing you have diabetes.  Once diagnosed, you have the ability to make lifestyle changes that will improve your health and reduce your risk of complications.
Denial is also common among the newly diagnosed, but it may actually be your way of coping with the news initially and gradually accepting it.  Continued denial, however – telling yourself that one bite won’t hurt or I don’t have time to test right now – can pose serious health risks. 
Talk to your health care provider if you experience any of the following for more than two weeks:

1. Feeling sad, nervous or guilty.
2. Inability to accept your diagnosis.
3. Difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep or sleeping more than usual.
4. Eating considerably more or less than you did prior to your diagnosis.
5. Problems concentrating, constant worry or having trouble making decisions.

Q:  My primary care provider referred me to a dietitian. What is a dietitian and how can he/she help me?

A:  A dietitian is a specially trained professional that is an integral part of your diabetes health care team.  He/she can explain how food works inside your body, why it’s important to make good food choices, and how to make smart selections when eating out or attending special events.  Besides teaching you to recognize foods and ingredients that are healthy for you, a dietitian can show you how to read food labels, provide tasty recipes or help locate appropriate cookbooks, and help personalize an eating plan based on your desired weight, lifestyle and medication.  If you’re carrying a few extra pounds, a dietitian can help you lose reasonable amounts of weight over a proper period of time. 

Q:  What things should my primary care doctor and I do to prevent complications of diabetes?

A:  Two important actions are to take your medication as your doctor prescribes and keep your weight at a proper level for your height—this is known as Body Mass Index, or BMI. It can be calculated and is used to determine a “healthy” weight for your height and is different for men and women.  You should have periodic tests, one or more times a year, of your blood to determine how well-controlled your diabetes is – this is called a Hemoglobin A1c test.  A value for HgbA1c below 7 is excellent; not all diabetic patients can achieve this without having symptoms of  low blood sugar, in which case, you should aim to achieve a level of less than 9. You should keep your blood pressure in normal range (below 130/80) and have annual tests of your blood “fat” levels to maintain your LDL level less than 120. Your doctor will also order periodic eye exams to make sure you do not have retinal damage from high blood sugar, and should evaluate your feet for nerve changes at least once a year. Depending on your other medical conditions, your doctor may order other tests and/or medications to help prevent or to control complications of diabetes.

Q:  Besides my doctor, what resources do I have for learning about diabetes?

A:  The more you know about diabetes, the more in control you’ll feel.  Be careful about where you get the information, though.  If your local VA facility doesn’t offer a formal education program, contact the American Diabetes Association to find a source in your community.  Well-meaning friends and neighbors may want to share their experiences, but be wary about their advice on what to eat, how to take insulin, manage blood sugar, etc.
Remember, diabetes is not a death sentence.  On the contrary, the diagnosis may have saved your life!  Learn all you can about it from good sources, follow the advice of your primary health care provider, and bravely go forth to beat the odds!

COMMON DIABETES MYTHS
Myth #1  Diabetes is contagious.

Myth #2  People with diabetes should never eat sweets or chocolate.

Myth #3  Eating large amounts of sugar causes diabetes. 

Myth #4  People with diabetes should eat special diabetic or dietetic foods.

Myth #5  Insulin causes weight gain so you shouldn’t take it.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
 
My HealtheVet
Online at www.myhealth.va.gov/
Review health and disease information, record personal statistics such as blood sugar and weight, and maintain an activity journal.

American Diabetes Association
Online at www.diabetes.org
1-800-DIABETES
(1-800-342-2383)
Read the latest diabetes news, find meal and snack recipes, join a message board, and find community events.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Online at www.cdc.gov
Calculate your BMI and learn more about weight management.  Search key word “BMI.”

Welcoming Our Newest Veterans

Welcome home and thank you for your service to our country. We at the VA understand that one of the last things on your mind when returning home is health care. We also understand that returning combat veterans often overlook their current health issues in order to return home sooner. At the same time, we know that good health care is a benefit you’ve not only deserved, but one that you need to take advantage of now so that it will always be available to you. That is why we’re continuously trying to make it easy for you to enroll.
When Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (OIF/OEF) service members leave active duty, a VA team is invited to post deployment sessions to share information about VA benefits with veterans and their family members. VA Desert Pacific Healthcare Network staff attend these sessions not only to greet combat veterans and outreach to their families, but we are there to educate veterans about our available services and support systems. We want to make sure, that at the very least, you have the right information on our locations and services so that you can access care now and when you need it.
Whether returning to reserve status or separating from the military completely, newly-returning combat veterans are eligible for up to two years of primary care, dental care, rehabilitation, or help with readjustment issues (such as post-traumatic stress disorder or substance abuse). VA services do not require a co-payment for these two years, and veterans who enroll can start receiving care the day they leave active duty—they can even be enrolled for benefits and set scheduled appointments at the post deployment sessions or other outreach meetings!
According to Lisa Tinch, OIF/OEF Coordinator, the benefit information that veterans receive at outreach events is part of a collaborative effort between the Department of Defense (DoD) and the VA. “The bottom line is that we are here to ensure a seamless transition from DoD to the VA with no disruption in care. We try to make it easy. We want to get veterans enrolled as soon as possible so they can fully utilize all of the benefits.”
If a veteran chooses not to sign up for health care benefits at an outreach event they are still entitled to care, but must complete the enrollment process at another time. Tinch adds, “They can come in any time. Every VA facility has a point-of-contact and a case-manager to help coordinate each individual veterans care.”
In addition to participating in post deployment briefings, the VA Desert Pacific Healthcare Network makes other outreach efforts through periodic phone calls and mailings to veterans, and by ensuring that information is easily accessible through the internet at www.desertpacific.va.gov. A full range of high quality health care services are available to our newest veterans through large medical centers, smaller community clinics, and Vet Centers that specialize in readjustment services for the whole family.
For OIF/OEF veterans that have serious injuries, VA offers Level I and II Poly Trauma Centers that offer state-of-the-art specialized care to meet the needs of these veterans as they transfer from the DoD system of care to VA. The VA Medical Center in Palo Alto, California provides Level I services with the Medical Center in West Los Angeles offering Level II.  
We are here for you.  Come and enroll and experience the high quality care VA provides all veterans.

Got Your New Veterans Identification Card?

VA has announced the release of a new Veterans Identification Card (VIC) that protects the privacy of your personal information. The new card no longer shows your Social Security Number or date of birth. Your personal information is now coded on the back of your card, so you will still need to safeguard the new card like any other identification card or credit card.  The new cards will show “Former POW”, “Purple Heart” and “Service-Connected” for enrolled veterans with confirmed status. In addition, the cards have a new design with an enhanced color photo to provide positive identification while visiting VA medical facilities.
If you have an old identification card, contact your local VA medical center or clinic and arrange to get a new Veterans Identification Card.  After your enrollment is verified and your picture is taken, the card will be mailed to you within five to seven days at the address you provide.  If the U.S. Postal Service cannot deliver the card to you, it will be returned to the facility where you requested the card.  VA is phasing out the old veterans identification cards so it’s important that you get your new card as soon as possible.
For additional information about obtaining your new card, call your local VA enrollment department or the Health Benefits Service Center at 1-877-222-VETS (8387) for assistance.  

How are we doing?
Thank you for your service to our nation and for choosing to receive your health care at one of our VA medical centers or clinics. 

As part of receiving your care with us, you may be asked to complete a special survey that has you rate the care we provide. We encourage you to take the time to offer your evaluation and comments. We realize there are many questions, but they all deal with different parts of your care. We take your responses very seriously, as they help give us a better understanding of how we can provide you with exceptional health care.
It is our hope that you will be able to rate us as “excellent” or “always” meeting your expectations.  We do realize, however, despite our best intentions we may not totally meet your expectations in some areas. Should that be the case, we would like to hear how we can serve you better. 
We encourage you to contact one of our customer service staff to discuss your concerns.  With your help, and our dedicated staff, we can continue delivering veterans “the best care anywhere.”

Customer Service Staff
Healthcare System

Share VA health care with a fellow veteran –
tell your neighbors or friends
VA Health Benefits:
877-222-VETS
www.desertpacific.va.gov

Flu Shots
It’s not too late!
Flu shots are free for all veterans enrolled with the VA.  Get yours today at drive-through or walk-in clinics at your local VA medical center.

Providing safe care for Veterans is our
primary concern
Please tell us your ideas for improving patient safety at your VA Medical Center
Send an email message to
V22PatientSafety@med.va.gov

Joint Commissionon Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations:
VA facilities in So. California and So. Nevada will receive unannounced surveys from the Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations in 2007.  All employees, patients and families have the right to contact the medical center leadership without fear of punishment should they have a concern about quality of care or patient safety. If the concerns cannot be resolved at the facility level, the patient or family may contact the Joint Commission’s Office of Quality Monitoring by either calling (800) 994-6610 or by e-mailing complaint@jcaho.org.

Please . . .
Don’t be a “No Show”

Help us serve you and your fellow veterans better.

Here is how you can help:

1. If you cannot keep your scheduled appointment, always call to cancel as soon as possible.
2. Your cancelled appointment will be offered to another veteran.
3. Please inform us of changes in your address or phone number.

VA Desert Pacific
Healthcare Network
Vet Centers

Anaheim Vet Center
859 South Harbor Boulevard
Anaheim, CA 92805-5157
714-776-0161

Corona Vet Center
800 Magnolia Ave., Suite 110
Corona, CA 92879-3123
951-734-0525

East Los Angeles Vet Center
5400 E. Olympic Boulevard
Suite 150
Commerce, CA 90022-5147
323-728-9966

Las Vegas Vet Center
1919 S. Jones Blvd., Suite A
Las Vegas, NV 89146
702-251-7873

Los Angeles Vet Center
1045 W. Redondo Beach Boulevard
Suite 150
Gardena, CA 90247-4129
310-767-1221

San Bernardino Vet Center
155 W. Hospitality Lane, Suite 140
San Bernardino, CA 92408-3305
909-890-0797

San Diego Vet Center
2900 Sixth Avenue
San Diego, CA 92103-1003
619-294-2040

Sepulveda Vet Center
9737 Haskell Avenue
Sepulveda, CA 91343-1618
818-892-9227

Ventura Vet Center
790 E. Santa Clara, Suite 100
Ventura, CA 93001-2964
805-585-1860

Vista Vet Center
1830 West Drive, Suites 103/104
Vista, CA 92083-6125
760-643-2070

West Los Angeles Vet Center
5730 Uplander Way, Suite 100
Culver City, CA 90230-6615
310-641-0326

REACHING US IS EASY

VA Medical Centers

VA Southern Nevada
Healthcare System
P.O. Box 360001
Las Vegas, NV 89036
702-636-3000

Mike O’Callaghan
Federal Hospital
4700 Las Vegas Boulevard North
Las Vegas, NV 89191
702-653-2215

VA Loma Linda
Healthcare System
11201 Benton Street
Loma Linda, CA 92357
909-825-7084

VA Long Beach
Healthcare System
5901 East 7th Street
Long Beach, CA 90822
562-826-8000

VA San Diego
Healthcare System
3350 La Jolla Village Drive
San Diego, CA 92161
858-552-8585

VA Greater Los Angeles
Healthcare System
11301 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90073
310-478-3711

Community Clinics

Anaheim
1801 W. Romneya Drive
3rd Floor, Suite 303
Anaheim, CA 92801
714-780-5400

Antelope Valley
547 W. Lancaster Blvd.
Lancaster, CA 93534
661-729-8655

Bakersfield
1801 Westwind Drive
Bakersfield, CA 93301
661-632-1800

Cabrillo
2001 River Avenue
Long Beach, CA 90810
562-826-8414

Chula Vista
835 3rd Avenue
Chula Vista, CA 91910
619-409-1600

Corona
800 Magnolia Avenue #101
Corona, CA 92879
951-817-8820

East Los Angeles
5400 E. Olympic Boulevard #150
City of Commerce, CA 90040
323-725-7557

Escondido
815 East Pennsylvania Avenue
Escondido, CA 92025
760-466-7020

Gardena
1251 Redondo Beach Boulevard
3rd Floor
Gardena, CA 90247
310-851-4705

Henderson
2920 Green Valley Parkway,
Suite 215
Henderson, NV 89014
702-456-3825

Imperial Valley
528 G Street
Brawley, CA 92227
760-344-9085

Las Vegas - Homeless Veterans
912 West Owens Avenue
Las Vegas, NV 89106
702-636-4077

Lompoc
338 S. Dakota Avenue, Bldg. 13850
Vandenburg AFB, CA 93437
805-605-2120

Los Angeles
351 E. Temple Street
Los Angeles, CA 90012
213-253-2677

Mission Valley
8810 Rio San Diego Drive
San Diego, CA 92108
619-400-5000

Oxnard
250 W. Citrus Grove Avenue
Suite 140
Oxnard, CA  93030
805-983-6384

Palm Desert
41865 Boardwalk, Suite 103
Palm Desert, CA 92211
760-341-5570

Pahrump
2100 E. Calvada Boulevard
Pahrump, NV 89048
775-727-7535

Pasadena
420 W. Las Tunas Drive
San Gabriel, CA 91776
626-289-5973

San Luis Obispo
1288 Morro St., #200
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
805-543-1233

Santa Ana
Bristol Medical Center
2740 S. Bristol Street
1st Floor, Suite 110
Santa Ana, CA 92704
714-825-3500

Santa Barbara
4440 Calle Real
Santa Barbara, CA 93110
805-683-1491

Sepulveda
16111 Plummer Street
Sepulveda, CA 91343
818-891-7711

South Los Angeles
3737 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.,
Suite 515
Lynwood, CA 90262
310-537-6825

Sun City
28125 Bradley Road
Suite 130
Sun City, CA 92586
951-672-1931

Upland
1238 E. Arrow Highway,
No. 100
Upland, CA 91786
909-946-5348

Victorville
12138 Industrial Boulevard
Suite 120
Victorville, CA 92392
760-951-2599

Vista
1840 West Drive
Vista, CA 92083
760-643-2000

Whittier/Santa Fe Springs
10210 Orr and Day Road
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
562-864-5565