For individuals with diabetes, it is always vital to control their condition -- especially when they're hospitalized with a diabetes-related complication or another medical ailment. That's why more and more patients with diabetes choose Desert Springs Hospital Medical Center when they need inpatient care.

The hospital and its Diabetes Treatment Center have a long history of providing diabetes patients with personalized and sophisticated care. Staff throughout the hospital work as a team with one goal in mind: to control a patient's diabetes so he/she heals as quickly and completely as possible when hospitalized.

"We develop individual care plans for patients with diabetes, whether they're recovering from a heart attack, surgery or the flu," says Joyce Malaskovitz, PhD, RN, CDE, Director of the Diabetes Treatment Center. "Inpatient nurse clinicians who specialize in diabetes visit patients every day. The nurses work with a patient-care team to make sure patients' blood sugar levels are well controlled and to address any diabetes-related questions or problems."

Innovative Technology and Resources To help control patients' blood glucose levels when they're hospitalized, the staff uses a computer-based program called a Glucommander. Doctors establish glucose goals for each patient, and nurses input this information into the system. Every couple of hours, a nurse checks patients' blood glucose levels and enters that data into the program. Then the Glucommander provides vital information to accurately program the insulin drip.

Diabetes experts at the Diabetes Treatment Center also offer comprehensive outpatient services to help patients prevent diabetes-related complications and hospitalizations. Outpatient services include:

• Diabetes classes on a variety of topics, from stress management to exercise basics
• Medication initiation and management, from orals to injectables
• Nutrition counseling and meal planning, including lipid management
• Continuous glucose monitoring system to help with glucose management
• New education series on herbs and supplements
• Community lectures and individual and family support