Linda Graves, a certified diabetes educator (CDE) works hard to improve the lives of people with diabetes.

November is national diabetes awareness month, and this educator speaks softly, but carries a big heart.

Graves believes in treating the whole patient, not just the sickness, and that is what she does at the Diabetes Outreach Program next to Lowell’s Pharmacy.

"That is what I’m doing here. You get to know the individual. Their strengths and weaknesses. You get to know people not diseases," she said.

After getting her nursing degree, Graves immediately went to work for Dr. Orson Treloar, an endocrinologist. When the doctor retired, she went back to school and eventually received her CDE certification.

Graves stated she loves working as a CDE. She said, "There are so many people being diagnosed these days, and the biggest problem is the lack of education. People don’t realize they have a lot of control over diabetes."

Graves commented that, "When people are diagnosed with diabetes, some doctors don’t tell them much, they give them a pamphlet and tell them to check their sugar. Few doctors have the time they would like to spend with patients."

She is proud of the Artesia Program because many people have to go all the way to Albuquerque to get the same education. She said, "Artesia is lucky that the hospital here has a program."

Patients are referred by their doctors or the hospital, but no patient is ever turned away because of a lack of money.

Graves said that Artesians respond well to the service she provides. "They have so many questions and are happy to have answers. They say things like, ‘I didn’t know that’ or ‘I learned so much.’"

It makes Graves excited to think that so many people are taking control of their disease, particularly when the deck is stacked against people with diabetes. For example, people with diabetes have a harder time getting insurance or a driver’s license.

Graves said that diabetes is more than just high blood sugar, "It is a manageable disease and people should be aware of that.

"People should be aware of how to control it, the complications of not controlling it, and the reasons they have it. "

Graves explained that, "Sometimes people don’t know why their blood sugar has to be in a certain range or what kind of complications can arise. In addition, patients may not know the side effects of their medicine, or even how exercise effects diabetes."

One of the things Graves wants her patients to understand is that "with diabetes, it’s not the sugar, it’s the carbohydrates." Which means such things as pastas, breads and fruits.

In addition to her regular work, Graves volunteers at the American Red Cross teaching CPR classes. She will also be teaching parents and teachers at the head start program in Artesia about dealing with children that have diabetes.

Graves graduated from Artesia High School in 1971 and says playfully, "It was a Bulldog town then too." She is also proud of the way Artesians care about their kids and "always have."