JACKSON, Tenn. — Aug. 28, 2025 — When Johnny Pruitte, of Pulaski, Tennessee, walked into the diabetes workshop led by Union University pharmacy professor Bethany Murphy and Union pharmacy students, he didn’t think much about it. He even chose to skip the free glucose test they offered.
A year later, in the summer of 2024, Union students returned for another diabetes workshop. This time he decided to participate.
He had learned about many of the warning signs of diabetes and had noticed a few symptoms pop up over the previous months. As an active 65-year-old, he knew something was off, so he decided to have his glucose tested.
Union student Melonie (Schmiede) Valleroy administered the test and immediately called Murphy over to look at the results. Murphy, associate professor of pharmacy practice, suggested they run the test again. As a shock to them all, the results were the same: 580.
The normal fasting glucose level is under 100, with post-meal levels reaching up to 140.
“She was very alarmed to say the least,” Pruitte recalled, and he was surprised to realize that he fit the profile of a diabetic, just like the examples the students had shared.
Murphy suggested he immediately go to the emergency room, but Pruitte, a self-described “hard head,” decided to go home and research. He started reading about ways to lower glucose levels.
“Most everything I read involved leafy green vegetables,” he said. “The next day I started a greens diet.”
Within a few days, he had lowered his levels to 187 and urged his friends to inform Murphy. Pruitte admitted, though, that “she came back and said, ‘It’s still way too high. You’ve got to see a doctor.’”
So he finally complied and agreed to visit his regular doctor. Murphy continued to check in on Pruitte periodically.
Nearly a year later, after several months of taking control of his diet and temporarily using medication, his glucose levels are averaging 140 to 160, and he’s lost 50 pounds.
Speaking of Murphy, Pruitte said, “There is no doubt in my mind that [she] played a huge part in saving my life and sparing my organs irreparable damage.”
“I appreciate Union University,” he said. “I love the ministry that they’re involved with, and this type of outreach is useful in the communities. I hope Union continues to allow their professors to go out into the communities and really, really help.”
Murphy is quick to praise the pharmacy students. Students Karlie Bevis and Kayley O’Kelly from the student organization American Pharmacists Association -- Academy of Student Pharmacists had joined Murphy in 2023 and first taught Pruitte the warning signs for diabetes.
“Students are willing to come out in the summer, and even drive an hour to do an event,” Murphy said. “I think that's a big deal that shows our students and what they're committed to and the difference they're making.”
The Union chapter of the APhA-ASP is active and regularly serves the community with workshops and screenings in Jackson and the surrounding towns.