Type 2 Diabetes: Preventing Complications

Low Returns

Overall, 34 diabetes educators were contacted by telephone, usually at the clinics where they worked, in an attempt to create the most qualified sample. Of the 34 CDEs with whom we spoke or left messages, only 9 agreed to complete the survey.

Results

Even though every participant agreed that blood pressure monitoring is an important part of overall diabetes care, five of the nine do not recommend or give out HBPMs. Only one participant recommended a specific brand of HBPM, and she admitted that she did so only because it was a free model that was part of a manufacturer's promotion. The other three participants who recommend home blood pressure monitoring refer their patients to a pharmacist or other professional for recommendations about models. Although all nine participants have had at least minimal experience with patients with diabetes who are visually impaired, only one had received any formal training in adaptive diabetes care education. Three admitted that they usually recommend that their patients who are visually impaired receive help from a sighted person, rather than learn self-care for their diabetes. Six would offer training in the use of HBPMs, but they all agreed that they would like to receive more information and better training in HBPMs themselves.

Of the three readers who responded to our AccessWorld Extra questions, all had been told by their health care professionals to check their blood pressure at home, but none was advised to purchase an accessible HBPM. One reader did purchase an accessible monitor, but he found it on his own, without advice from his health care provider.

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