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8 OUR YUCAIPA | JANUARY 2016 By Natalie Palmer Dr. Gaja Andzel got more than she bargained for when she graduated from medical school in 2000. Along with her degree, the young and plucky doctor from Poland was handed something she didn't expect. The life changing diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes. Maybe prophetically, Andzel was already trained in the care of diabetes. Her chosen specialty was Endocrinology. Endocrinologists are specially trained physicians who diagnose diseases related to the glands, including diabetes. But Andzel quickly found that she needed so much more than just clinical knowledge of the disease. She needed to know how to handle her new version of life. "I needed support. I needed to get other people's perspectives to see how they dealt with so many similar problems," said Andzel. So, after setting up practice at Beaver Medical in Yucaipa two years ago, she set out to not only give other diabetics the best care possible, but to create a place for them to meet other Type 1 diabetics and get support they desperately needed, but didn't get in short, routine patient visits. "Patients have so many questions and it was so frustrating to me that I only had 20 minutes with them," said Andzel. "It's just not enough time. " To have that extra time, and to answer ongoing questions, Andzel has created a much needed diabetes support group. The group meets the First Wednesday of each month at 5:30 pm in the conference room at the Beaver Medical Group Yucaipa location at 33758 Yucaipa Blvd. Andzel is quick to point out that she is there as a patient, sharing her own struggles and offering support to other kids and especially adults who many times have never met someone like them with type 1 diabetes. Kids often attend camps and meet other diabetics in school, she said, but often times adults don't know another single person with the disease. Andzel said it's important to note that Type 1 diabetes that requires insulin is far more serious than Type 2 diabetes, which can often be controlled with diet and exercise. "A few days without fighting Type 1 will land you in intensive care," Andzel said. "We have to fight every day. But there is a whole army of us. I really want people, especially kids, to know diabetes doesn't have to hold them back. We can do anything." In November, Andzel's army participated for the second year in the annual Walk for Diabetes in Riverside. The first year the team had just eight participants, but in 2015 it had over 50 team members who, with help from Beaver Medical, raised over $6,000. As additional support for local diabetics, this month Andzel kicks off a series of workshops with world renowned experts and authors about diabetes. The first workshop is set for 4 pm Jan. 23 and will feature diabetes educator Gary Sheiner. The second workshop is scheduled for April 23 and will feature athlete and diabetes activist Sebastien Sasseville. The workshops will be held every few months at Crosswalk Church, 10421 Corporate Drive, Redlands. "I live in Yucaipa. I love Yucaipa. I want each patient here to get the best care possible and change the way we treat and think about diabetes," said Andzel. For more information, email beticarmyca@gmail.com, or call Holly or Amanda at Beaver Medical at 795-9747 ext. 5213. Local Doctor Educates Patients With Diabetes

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