Ellen
10-14-2007, 09:48 AM
I found this document to be very respectful and shows that the healthcare system plays a large part in the poor control of type 2 diabetes in patients. If you click on the link, you can read the entire document.
http://www.idf.org/webdata/docs/ChooseControlReport.pdf
One excerpt:
People with Type 2 diabetes want to be in control of their diabetes. However, their poor understanding of what it means and its consequences and the perceived lack of effective communication from healthcare professionals prevents them from gaining control of their condition. Worryingly, the survey results show that healthcare professionals may inadvertently substantiate a poor awareness of diabetes among participants.
These survey results indicate that:
• Healthcare professionals may not have enough time to explain diabetes to
patients.
• Healthcare professionals may be maintaining patients on oral antidiabetic therapy despite their condition being poorly controlled.
• Healthcare professionals may need to adapt the way in which they
communicate aspects of the condition – even though the patients in this
survey were defined as poorly controlled by their healthcare professional,
almost half of people surveyed believe they have 'mild' diabetes.
People with Type 2 diabetes in this survey are already poorly controlled, despite receiving oral treatment, and need improved disease management strategies to reduce their long-term risks of complications.
This survey of people with poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes with HbA1c scoresabove recommended levels has clearly shown that:
• People with Type 2 diabetes in this survey were largely unaware that their diabetes is poorly controlled.
• Many of these people surveyed did not understand the seriousness of
diabetes, believing it to be 'mild' and that they were at a low risk of
complications.
• Healthcare professionals do not appear to be effectively communicating to people with Type 2 diabetes in this survey about their condition, long-term outcomes and HbA1c targets.
• People with Type 2 diabetes in this survey clearly want to be in control of their diabetes, but struggle with it, particularly with regards to weight control.
• In this survey people with Type 2 diabetes are concerned about commencing insulin – viewing it as the 'last resort' despite the proven health benefits it might provide them.
http://www.idf.org/webdata/docs/ChooseControlReport.pdf
One excerpt:
People with Type 2 diabetes want to be in control of their diabetes. However, their poor understanding of what it means and its consequences and the perceived lack of effective communication from healthcare professionals prevents them from gaining control of their condition. Worryingly, the survey results show that healthcare professionals may inadvertently substantiate a poor awareness of diabetes among participants.
These survey results indicate that:
• Healthcare professionals may not have enough time to explain diabetes to
patients.
• Healthcare professionals may be maintaining patients on oral antidiabetic therapy despite their condition being poorly controlled.
• Healthcare professionals may need to adapt the way in which they
communicate aspects of the condition – even though the patients in this
survey were defined as poorly controlled by their healthcare professional,
almost half of people surveyed believe they have 'mild' diabetes.
People with Type 2 diabetes in this survey are already poorly controlled, despite receiving oral treatment, and need improved disease management strategies to reduce their long-term risks of complications.
This survey of people with poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes with HbA1c scoresabove recommended levels has clearly shown that:
• People with Type 2 diabetes in this survey were largely unaware that their diabetes is poorly controlled.
• Many of these people surveyed did not understand the seriousness of
diabetes, believing it to be 'mild' and that they were at a low risk of
complications.
• Healthcare professionals do not appear to be effectively communicating to people with Type 2 diabetes in this survey about their condition, long-term outcomes and HbA1c targets.
• People with Type 2 diabetes in this survey clearly want to be in control of their diabetes, but struggle with it, particularly with regards to weight control.
• In this survey people with Type 2 diabetes are concerned about commencing insulin – viewing it as the 'last resort' despite the proven health benefits it might provide them.