Clinical Pharmacists at Peak Vista’s Cardiovascular Risk & Diabetes Center provide specialized care for patients with type 2 diabetes and/or elevated cholesterol. Patients with type 2 diabetes and elevated cholesterol are at an increased risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Patients with diabetes are also at risk of developing kidney disease, retinal (eye) disease, gum disease, and nerve pain. Pharmacists collaborate closely with patients to help them meet their cholesterol and A1C goals through medication management and education, aiming to prevent the development or progression of these complications.
The center offers comprehensive services and support for patients, including appointment scheduling, guidance on taking their medications, and education on living with diabetes and elevated cholesterol. Understanding what impacts blood sugar and cholesterol an important aspect is of managing these lifelong conditions, and patients can seek guidance regarding questions or concerns related to their treatment.
How to Schedule an Appointment
The Cardiovascular Risk & Diabetes Center will contact patients to schedule an appointment after a referral has been sent from their Peak Vista medical provider. The center can only accept referrals from primary care providers at Peak Vista.
What to Expect During an Appointment
The first appointment with the Cardiovascular Risk & Diabetes Center is a 90-minute office visit. During this visit, patients can expect to discuss their medical history, medications they have tried, recommended lifestyle changes, and for most patients, changes in medication therapy. Follow-up appointments are typically every 1-4 weeks over the phone and every 3-6 months in person.
Living with Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition, meaning it requires lifelong management. Patients must pay special attention to their diet, lifestyle, health status, and medications to manage their blood sugars and prevent complications. While there is a lot of information available for patients managing their lifestyles, it can be overwhelming and difficult to navigate what is best for each individual.
Living with Elevated Cholesterol
Most patients do not know that they have elevated cholesterol until they have labs drawn. High cholesterol levels can cause plaque to build up in artery walls, which narrows the arteries and blocks blood flow to the heart. This can cause chest pain (also known as angina) or a heart attack (also known as a myocardial infarction). These fatty deposits can also break off and form clots that cause heart attacks or strokes.
Monitoring
Monitoring both diabetes and cholesterol requires appointments to assess lifestyle changes, medication side effects, and to review labs. In addition, diabetes requires frequent follow-up to review blood sugar logs to determine how well a medication or diet change is working. Therefore, patients are required to check their blood sugar to participate in this center.
Insurance Options
The Cardiovascular Risk and Diabetes Center appointments are available to Peak Vista patients at no cost to ensure that all patients have access to the care they need.
Location and Contact Information
Caroline Britt, PharmD, is a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist who joined the Peak Vista team in 2021. She and other clinical pharmacists are available at the Cardiovascular Risk and Diabetes Center, conveniently located inside Peak Vista’s Union Campus, 225 S. Union Blvd., Colorado Springs, CO. For further information, please visit peakvista.org or ask your provider if it would be a good option for you!
