Diabetes News
The Less Patients Know About Diabetes, The Greater The Risk of Complications
WASHINGTON, February 2, 2005 (U.S. Newswire) -- Despite a universe of tools available to both physicians and patients, too little is being done to be sure patients are taking essential steps to control diabetes, according to the American College of Endocrinology (ACE) and American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE).
Though guidelines on diabetes management were announced in 2001 by ACE and AACE, there is a noticeable lack of compliance among patients and physicians. Meanwhile more than 20 million Americans suffer from diabetes. An additional 41 million have pre-diabetes, a condition that leads to diabetes if left untreated.
"Patients with diabetes are often in denial," said Jaime A. Davidson, MD, FACE, chair of the conference. "The problem only mushrooms when physicians miss the window of early detection and treatment."
To address this growing problem, ACE and AACE sponsored a conference to determine the best ways to help patients delay the progression of Type-2 diabetes and prevent complications such as cardiovascular, eye, kidney and nerve disease.
The key recommendations of the Implementation Consensus Conference are:
-- Early intervention and treatment: Early screening of at- risk patients (beginning at age 30) and early and persistent treatment of patients with existing diabetes can improve quality of life and significantly reduce the risk of later complications. This may involve starting therapy with two or more drugs in addition to lifestyle changes.
-- Education: Education is critical for patients with diabetes. The more you know about the disease, the better chance you have of living a longer and healthier life.
-- Self monitoring of blood glucose: Frequent blood glucose monitoring allows you and your healthcare team to make more informed decisions about therapy and the effect of eating and exercise on their glucose control. Good control means keeping blood sugar levels below 110 before eating and below 140 two hours after eating.
-- Control your eating: Stick to your daily meal plan and know when and how to make adjustments.
-- Daily exercise: Include daily exercise in the management of your diabetes.
-- Medication: There are many drug combinations that, in conjunction with lifestyle modifications, can help you manage your condition. Follow the regimen prescribed by your physician. The medication will not cure diabetes, but it will control diabetes.
"Diabetes as we know it today is more complex than we once thought and the treatment is even more complex," said Davidson. "However," he adds, "the ACE/AACE guidelines for diabetes management are achievable when patients work closely with their physicians and other members of their healthcare team."
Conference co-chairs were ACE president Paul S. Jellinger, MD, MACE and Lawrence W. Blonde, MD, FACP, FACE. Other organizations that participated in this conference included the American Association of Diabetes Educators, American Medical Association, Lawson Wilkins Pediatric Endocrine Society and Mexican Society of Nutrition and Endocrinology. A formal position statement can be found at http://www.aace.com.
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AACE is a professional medical organization with more than 5,200 members in the United States and 70 other countries. Founded in 1991, AACE is dedicated to the optimal care of patients with endocrine disorders. For more information about AACE visit the Web site at http://www.aace.com.