Free Clinic receives grant to provide diabetes supplies

Bagley Downs — To help cover the cost of diabetes supplies for the uninsured, the Community Foundation for Southwest Washington has awarded The Free Clinic of Southwest Washington a grant for $5,000. The grant will benefit the Diabetes Transition Care Program, which relies on volunteers and community partners to offer education, stabilization and comprehensive care each month to dozens of uninsured people who are living with diabetes. “So often, patients who come to the Free Clinic for care either know they have diabetes and have been unable to find resources to control it, or they end up becoming diagnosed with diabetes once they see one of our volunteer doctors. It’s a very big issue,” said Kim Wolfe free clinic director, in a press release about the grant. The Free Clinic of Southwest Washington relies on over 600 volunteer professionals to offer medical care to those in need. Besides providing staff support, the funding will allow the program to purchase medical and testing supplies. While in the program, patients receive lab tests as often as necessary to monitor their health and progress.