Letter from the Editor #515

I was giving a recent talk to some medical professionals and mentioned that our country’s largest export was diabetes. Now there is a new report indicating that China has overtaken both the US and India as the country with the highest number of diabetes patients. (See this week’s Item #14.) A new study shows that over 92 million Chinese citizens have diabetes and the epidemic will only get worse.

Here in our own country it appears we have found a better way to identify diabetes patients.  Last week’s issue of The Lancet contained a diabetes study using the Archimedes Model to estimate the cost-effectiveness of several screening strategies. The findings suggest that screening for Type 2 diabetes is cost effective when started between the ages of 30 and 45 years, with screening repeated every 3 to 5 years. This is significant for your patients and their families, because diabetes can go undiagnosed up to 10 years while rising blood glucose levels cause increasing damage to the body.

Changing Behavior for the Better

Every week we have articles and features about getting patients to take charge of their healthcare. There are so many studies, programs and lectures pointing to reasons patients should take charge but most of these fall by the wayside in everyday life. Now, a group of clinicians and researchers have developed an evidence-based internet program that can really make a difference for your patients. This program, developed at the University of Pittsburgh, is worth taking a look at. Click here to review Using the Internet to Translate an Evidence-Based Lifestyle Intervention into Practice.

Announcements:

Taking Control of Your Diabetes: Honolulu and Kauai, Hawaii, April 24-25
The TCOYD team will be in Honolulu at the Hawaii Convention Center for a conference and health fair on Saturday, April 24, and then on the island of Kauai, Hawaii, on Sunday, April 25, at the Kauai Marriott Resort Lihue. For more 2010 upcoming conference details, please go to TCOYD.org.

dLife.com: March 21, 7PM ET on CNBC
Topics: From Facebook to forums, dLife takes a look at how online social networks are making a difference in diabetes health. Then, Chef Michel Nischan with low-carb chocolate cake and a dolphin trainer who doesn’t jump through hoops for diabetes. Sundays on CNBC at 7 PM ET, 6 PM CT, and 4 PM PT. Catch up on dLife.com.

Please answer this week’s Poll question:
Do you think that the new Health Care Reform will improve diabetes care?

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We can make a difference!

 

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Check out this week’s “Test Your Diabetes Knowledge” question!

Dave Joffe, Editor-in-chief