Maneerah Cunningham felt lost, alone and judged for not controlling what was happening to her.
After surviving life-threatening conditions and surgeries that led to her Type 1 diabetes diagnosis, she felt ill-equipped to navigate what she describes as her “new life” and craved education.
Although health care providers gave her information about Type 1 diabetes, Cunningham needed more guidance to understand how to live with this chronic condition.
“I was walking around here with nothing,” Cunningham says. “This diagnosis was very new to me. I needed a lot of information and still had questions.”
Her abnormal blood sugar results triggered a call last fall from Wendy Creighton, a nurse and diabetes educator for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois. Creighton offered diabetes information and referrals to other services, and Cunningham quickly accepted.
“It’s great to talk to her because she is willing to do what she needs to do to manage her condition,” Creighton says. “She is always very interested in finding out what resources may be available to her. She is doing her darndest to improve her life.”
Maneerah Cunningham
Creighton is among many nurses employed by BCBSIL who help members get the care they need to improve their health. They include holistic health and medical management specialists like Creighton, behavioral health care coordinators and clinical practice consultants.
“Nurses are the hub of everything we do, serving as the single point-of-contact to facilitate a seamless member experience,” says Jo Christison, director of clinical operations for health advocacy teams. “They truly advocate for our members by wrapping their arms around them and their families to help them navigate the complex medical world, empowering them to optimize their health and live life to their fullest.”
Wendy Creighton
Creighton embodies that spirit, says Lisa Hunter, a BCBSIL clinical operations manager. “She does her absolute best every time she talks to a member,” Hunter says. “It impresses me how much she’s willing to go above and beyond and always being patient and positive.”
Besides Creighton, Hunter’s team includes other diabetes educators, as well as social workers and registered dietitians, who work together to help members manage their conditions, as well as help with non-medical issues that may prevent them from getting the care they need.
“They’re helping members tackle complex issues,” Hunter says. “I’m blown away every day by the work they do for our members.”
As the daughter of a parent with Type 1 diabetes, Creighton always knew she would become a medical professional. Before becoming a diabetes educator, she worked at an outpatient wound clinic helping treat patients with diabetes at risk of amputations.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to connect with members and share their experiences,” Creighton says. “They inspire me, and I learn just as much from them as they might learn from me.”
From the moment they connected, Cunningham says, Creighton has provided the “lending ear” she needs to better control her condition, as well as preserve her peace of mind.
With Creighton’s help, Cunningham learned to adjust her diet and exercise routines to avoid dangerous nighttime blood sugar lows. Creighton also helped Cunningham acquire the infusion equipment she needed to better regulate her insulin.
“I wouldn’t have known to ask for any of this,” Cunningham says. “Wendy pays more attention to what I’m saying than other people have. She really has helped me in every way.”