Patient Testimonial Says It All

"I didn't come to my first group visit until my eyes started going bad," said diabetic patient Dolly Holmes.

Holmes, a patient of FP Scott Whiddon, M.D., said Whiddon tried his best to get her to take her diabetes seriously, "but the information just wasn't sticking."

"He would keep at me a lot, but I just couldn't see what he was talking about," Holmes said.

When her vision began to fail, Whiddon told Holmes to get her eyes checked.

She did. Then Holmes became a regular at one of Whiddon's diabetic group visits. Now she passes advice along to other patients in her diabetes group. "Other patients listen to me when I'm talking," said Holmes. "I tell them about how Dr. Whiddon told me to get my eyes checked and how I feel when my blood sugar goes too low."

Holmes said interacting with other patients has helped her understand the seriousness of her disease and made her more compliant. "I've learned how to eat healthy, drink lots of water, take my blood sugar and take care of my feet. I've learned to go for my checkups and to keep my appointments," she said.

Group visits are special, said Holmes. "It's more personal, a circle, close like family."