Tim McCorkle didn't like going to the doctor. In fact, the 49-year-old Violet resident hadn't been to a doctor in more than 20 years. But when he received a notice in the mail inviting him to "Men's Night Out" -- a health fair at Chalmette Medical Center designed specifically for men -- he decided it was time to take action.

"I had lost some excess weight, but I'd been a smoker for 30 years," McCorkle says. "I was afraid of doctors and worried about what they would find. But I got up my nerve and went anyway."

McCorkle's blood pressure and cholesterol levels were in the healthy range, but he was shocked to learn that his blood sugar was triple the normal level.

"It was so high that they checked it twice," he explains. "No one in my family has diabetes so I was really surprised."

Staff at the health fair referred McCorkle to Joe E. Johnson, M.D., an internal medicine specialist, and McCorkle made an appointment right away. Dr. Johnson confirmed that McCorkle had diabetes, and he prescribed oral medication.

"Mr. McCorkle is fortunate that his diabetes was diagnosed because it's estimated that about a third of all people who have diabetes don't know it," Dr. Johnson says. "If diabetes is left untreated, it can take a tremendous toll on the body. It can affect the eyes, heart, kidneys and nerve endings, and increase people's risk for heart attack and stroke."

Although McCorkle had avoided medical care for years, he was concerned about his condition. So he attended CMC's Diabetes Center education program where he learned about what he needed to do to manage his illness.

"Early intervention, treatment and diabetes education can make a tremendous difference because it can help patients prevent or delay serious diabetes-related complications," says Andrea Philippi, R.N., B.S.N., Director of Education at CMC. "Our diabetes education program teaches patients how to monitor their blood-sugar levels, how medications may help them gain better control and how changing their eating and exercise habits can improve their condition."

McCorkle took the information he learned to heart and has made many of the healthy lifestyle changes his diabetes educators recommended. For example, he now eats smaller portions, consumes more fruits, vegetables and healthy foods, and has drastically cut back on fast foods and fried foods.

"I feel great," he says. "My eyes seem better, and I'm not thirsty all the time. I haven't had any major problems."

Today, McCorkle is serious about taking care of his health, and he has some advice for men who are reluctant to seek medical care.

"Men should get their health checked at the doctor's office or at a health fair so they can get an idea of their health status," he says. "I could have died if my blood sugar stayed high. That screening probably saved my life."

Joe E. Johnson, M.D.

To find out more about the services available at the Chalmette Medical Center Diabetes Center, call 620-7414.

For more information about diabetes, visit www.chalmettemedical.com and click on Health Information in the left column. At the top of the next page, keyword search for Diabetes and click on GO.

9001 Patricia Street, P.O. Box 1727, Chalmette, LA 70044 (504) 620-6000