Diabetes Management Symposium

Upon completion of this course, attendees should be able to do the following: 

1.  Explain the latest guidelines as described in the ADA Standards of Diabetes Care. 
2. Translate the latest A1C research and recommendations to better management type 2 diabetes patients. 
3. Apply latest guidelines to manage type 2 diabetes with oral medications.
4. Know the latest diabetes research and advances in diabetes management, including the appropriate use of insulin therapy.
5. Initiate the appropriate diabetes prevention and control measures for patients at risk for and with type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes in the United States (US) has reached epidemic proportions and continues to pose a major health crisis for African Americans. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 23.6 million people of all ages or 7.8% of the population have diabetes, compared to 20.8 million in 2006.¹  The 2007 statistics also reflect that there are at least 5.7 million Americans that have been undiagnosed. ¹

There are three types of diabetes:  Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational.  With each category, it is a condition in which the body is unable to regulate its glucose levels.  Type 1 diabetes (formerly known as Juvenile Diabetes), also called ”insulin dependent diabetes,“ occurs because the body’s immune system attacks the beta cells (which enable the body to naturally produce insulin).² Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body cannot use the insulin that is produced properly.²  Gestational diabetes, on the other hand, occurs during pregnancy either by increased hormone levels and or low insulin levels.² In adults, type 2 diabetes accounts for about 90 to 95 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.

Currently, 23.5 million or 10.7% of Americans aged 20 years or older are diabetic.¹ Additionally, 3.7 million African Americans of the same age group are also diabetic.¹ Men make up 11.2% of the diabetic number, while women 10.2% have diabetes.¹   Adults with diabetes have heart disease death rates about 2 to 4 times higher than adults without diabetes. These increasing statistics also raise significant concern regarding the economic implication for the U.S. health system.  In fact, according to the American Diabetes Association, in 2007 $174 billion was spent on diabetes care with the bulk of it falling on insurers, employers, and the patients.³ The report states that the longer it takes for the undiagnosed to start receiving treatment, it could cost the U.S. up to 30% more for treatment and complications related to diabetes.³  Patients with diabetes who do not manage their glucose levels are at increased risk for many complications including: ^4,5

        Heart and Blood Vessel Disease

        Blindness

        Kidney Failure

        Diabetic Neuropathy and Nerve Damage

        Skin Complications

        Depression

        Erectile Dysfunction

        Dental Disease

In order for healthcare providers to effectively manage diabetes in their patient populations, staying up-to-date on the latest prevention and control guideline are crucial to a clinical practice. As such, familiarity with the American Diabetes Associations’ Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2009⁶ is a required discipline to demonstrate competency in diabetes care.

The National Medical Association (NMA) has been an active force within the community in disseminating information to consumers, patients and physicians with the latest information on diabetes.  Through the use of partnerships, the NMA plans to continue increasing community awareness about diabetes through linkages with community-based organizations and NMA patients, increasing physicians’ knowledge base, and increasing the number of African Americans that receive diabetes and diabetes related (high blood pressure prevention, healthy diet and exercise) education.⁷ These efforts will contribute to the prevention of complications and the reduction of premature mortality among people with diabetes.  Please become knowledgeable about NMA diabetes programs to support your practice and patients at risk-for and with diabetes.⁸

References:

1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – National Diabetes Statistics, 2007.  Available at U.S Department of Health and Human Services web site:  http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/statistics/DM_Statistics.pdf.
2. National Institute of Health, National Diabetes Clearing House – Your Guide to Type 1 & Type 2 Diabetes. Available at:  http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/dm/pubs/type1and2/YourGuide2Diabetes.pdf.
3. American Diabetes Association - Economic Costs of Diabetes in the U.S. in 2007.  Available at ADA website:  http://care.diabetesjournals.org/misc/econcosts.pdf 
4. U.S Food & Drug Administration – Complications of Diabetes.  Available at:  http://www.fda.gov/Diabetes/related.html.
5. American Diabetes Association – Type 2 Diabetes Complications.  Available at:  http://www.diabetes.org/type-2-diabetes/complications.jsp.
6. American Diabetes Association: Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes – 2009. Diabetes Care, Volume 32 Supplement 1, January 2009. Link to the article is available at: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/32/Supplement_1/S13.full.pdf+html.
7. Consensus Report of the National Medical Association:  Diabetes in the African American Community 2008.  Link to the consensus paper is available at: http://www.nmadiabetesnet.org/images/uploads/NMA_diabetes_final6.pdf.
8. National Medical Association: Diabetes website is available at http://www.nmadiabetesnet.org

The National Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The National Medical Association Medical Association designates this educational activity for a maximum of 3.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The National Medical Association has been reviewed and approved as an Authorized Provider by the International Association for Continuing Medical Education and Training (IACET), 8405 Greensboro Drive, Suite 800, McLean, VA 22102-5120. The National Medical Association has awarded 0.5 of CEUs to participants who successfully complete this program.

To receive credits, each physician must sign in and complete an evaluation of the course.

The National Medical Association gratefully acknowledges the support of LifeScan, a Johnson & Johnson Company.

All speakers participating in CME activities provided by the National Medical Association Department of Continuing Medical Education are expected to disclose to the audience any real or apparent conflict(s) of interest related to the content of their presentation(s).   

The Following speakers have indicated Relationship (s) with commercial entities:

KWABENA ADUBOFOUR, M.D.
Speaker’s Bureau:      Novo Nordisk

ANTHONY CANNON, M.D. 
Speaker’s Bureau:      GlaxoSmithKline 
Speaker’s Bureau:      Novo Nordisk 
Speaker’s Bureau:      Merck 
Speaker’s Bureau:      Eli Lilly & Company 
Speaker’s Bureau:      Sanofi-Aventis 
Speaker’s Bureau:      Auxilium 
Speaker’s Bureau:      Bristol Myers Squibb

JAMES GAVIN, M.D., PH.D. 
Speaker’s Bureau:      Eli Lilly & Company 
Speaker’s Bureau:      Novo Nordisk 
Speaker’s Bureau:      Sanofi-Aventis 
Speaker’s Bureau:      Bristol-Myers Squibb 
Speaker’s Bureau:      Astra Zeneca 
Stockholder:               Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc 
Consultant:                Sanofi-Aventis 
Consultant:                Daiichi 
Consultant:                Sankyo 
Consultant:                Astra Zeneca 
Consultant:                GlaxoSmithKline 
Consultant:                Bristol-Myers Squibb 
Consultant:                Eli Lilly & Company

WILMA J. WOOTEN, M.D., M.P.H. 
Advisory Panel:            National Diary Council

The following speakers have declared no relevant relationship (s) with commercial entities:

LENORE COLEMAN, PHARM.D.

KEVIN MC KINNEY, M.D.

National Diabetes Fact Sheet 2011

Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes-2011