08/06/2025
🩺 Managing diabetes isn’t just about blood sugar—it’s about protecting your eyesight, your heart, your kidneys, and your quality of life.
As part of Health Conditions Focus Day during , we’re highlighting Dr. Victoria Minter, who has been serving patients with care and expertise at Quality of Life Health Services since 2008. She provides primary care at the Douglas Medical Clinic, where she works closely with patients to manage and reduce the complications of chronic illnesses like diabetes.
Her work with diabetic patients expanded significantly after joining QOLHS, and in 2019, she became part of our Diabetic Initiative, a program that ensures high-quality care and helps improve outcomes for patients living with diabetes.
Diabetes affects millions, and understanding the different types is key:
“Type 1 means the pancreas does not produce insulin and always requires insulin. Type 2, which makes up 90% of cases, is when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or the body doesn’t use it well. Gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy and often goes away after delivery, but increases the mother’s risk for Type 2 later in life.”
Dr. Minter emphasizes that early detection and proper management are critical, as uncontrolled diabetes can lead to serious complications like blindness, nerve damage, kidney disease, strokes, heart attacks, and even limb loss.
At Quality of Life, we offer:
✔️ Hemoglobin A1c testing to evaluate long-term blood sugar
✔️ Kidney function monitoring
✔️ Referrals to specialists when needed
✔️ Integrated services including Dental, Podiatry, Optometry, and access to Project Access for affordable specialty care
Dr. Minter also ensures that education on three main components of diabetes treatment (meal plan, exercise, amd medication) are reviewed after every visit to ensure patients understand the role they play in their own disease management.
“Communication is important at QOL,” says Dr. Minter. “We use Language Line services to ensure our patients fully understand their condition and care plans, and we stay connected with local hospitals to help patients access financial assistance for scans, X-rays, and procedures.”
✨ If you haven’t had your blood sugar checked recently or you’ve been diagnosed with diabetes and want to improve your control—don’t wait.
📍 Douglas Medical Clinic
8225 HWY 75
Horton, AL 35980
📞 (256) 593-3804
🌐 www.qolhs.org
National Association of Community Health Centers
