WCMS Launches Diabetes Management Program
In partnership with the Mutual Aid Wellness Collective, the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC) Internal Medicine Residency Program, farmer cooperative Tierra Fértil, and MettaH, the Western Carolina Medical Society (WCMS) is proud to introduce a pilot program focused on improving diabetes management among uninsured and low-income individuals enrolled in WCMS’ Project Access®.
Grounded in a “Food Is Medicine” framework, the program provides participants with glucose level monitoring, A1C testing, health education, and care coordination through WCMS Project Access. Participants also receive weekly food boxes from local farmer cooperative Tierra Fértil, and attend a diabetes management course led by local endocrinologist Rashim Gupta, MD. These sessions are offered with simultaneous interpretation through the WCMS Interpreter Network (WIN), ensuring language access for all participants.
Dr. Gupta shared, “Being able to provide care to these patients has been so rewarding and humbling because they are so appreciative and do their best to engage despite technological barriers. They’ve told us they are learning and feel better, both physically and emotionally, by being able to take control of their condition.”
Alongside the pilot, WCMS has partnered with the Mutual Aid Wellness Collective and the MAHEC Internal Medicine Residency Program to offer a series of community diabetes screening events at Bounty & Soul markets and Buncombe County Public Library branches. These events are free and open to the public.
The culminating community health event for the first cohort of the Diabetes Intervention Program will take place at the Fairview Library on November 22, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The event will feature free diabetes screenings, a presentation by Dr. Rashim Gupta of MettaH, and an informational session presented by Tierra Fértil. More information is available at mywcms.org.
