Specialized medical practice to open in Bellingham

The Diabetes, Osteoporosis and Weight Loss Center is set to open in Bellingham on September 20 to help residents have more access to specialized medicine. 

Sandhya Gelou, MD and Alexander Gelou, MD, are opening the practice, at 2101 Cornwall Avenue, that will specialize in prediabetes, diabetes, weight management, osteoporosis, osteopenia and bone health. The center will help patients of all ages with abnormal bone density, high blood sugar or who need help managing weight, according to a press release on the practice’s opening. 

“With the increasing incidence of these conditions, compounded with an aging population, action is needed now more than ever,” Sandhya wrote in the release.

Sandhya said she and Alexander learned through practicing medicine in the Bellingham area that there is limited access to specialized healthcare.

“We intend to use our specialized training to fill this void, in part by increasing patient access and giving them a much better chance to improve their health and quality of life,” Alexander said.

The physicians finished their residencies at Duke University Medical Center. Sandhya is a fellowship-trained diabetologist with over a decade of experience and is a diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine. 

Alexander completed additional training in osteoporosis, bone health, clinical densitometry and weight management medicine, according to the press release. Alexander became interested in bone health when seeing hip and spine fracture impacts to hospital patients. 

“Many of these types of fractures can be prevented with early intervention,” he said. “If a fracture has already happened, then it is even more imperative to begin a recovery and treatment program.”