Looking at changes in treatment of diabetes

Tomorrow I head out of town to attend the American Diabetes Association meeting, one of the biggest meetings each year for people who treat and do research in diabetes.{{more}} This year it will be help in Orlando, so I hope to combine some education with family time since I have family living there also:

Why am I telling you about this anyway? Well I plan to pay attention, CLOSE ATTENTION, to new developments and recommendations. That is why we all go! Some people think that not much changes in medicine, and that really most recommendations and test stay the same for a long time. But that is just not true. Yes, when I say “change over time” I am not talking about day to day, but more like over years. But truly, years fly by so quickly, and often the changes that happen are quite dramatic.

Here are some of the biggest changes we have seen in the realm of treating diabetes over the last 20 years:

—Development and use of long acting insulin

—Development and use of Faster acting insulins

—The insulin pen device

—Shorter needles for insulin use

—Different improved testing meters

Over the past 10 years:

—Changes in recommendations for the glucose cut-off point for diagnosing abnormal versus normal.

—Glucose meters that will let you test on other areas besides your fingertips

—Better/Reliable hemoglobin A1C measures

Over the past 5 years:

—Recommendations changing about very strict glucose control towards less tight management

—Fleshing out criteria in the diagnosis of gestational diabetes

—Changes in medications, with some almost disappearing from the market (Avandia) and many appearing over the past few years (Januvia, Byetta, Crestor etc).

And those are just a few areas of change I this field. There are TONS more that have happened and are in the process of changing as I write this. I am always excited to attend these meetings every year because I feel on top of what is going on, and that I can then discuss the most up to date methods and ideas with my patients. Many docs also get this information through reading their journals and staying in touch with colleagues. It is always a good idea to ask your own doctor about what may be on the horizon, and what you can consider for change in your own regimen and approach to care. You never know, this may be the year that something BIG changes in your management!

I’ll fill you all in on the current recommendations over the next few weeks. So stay tuned! Until next week, stay safe and healthy Vincies!

Anita Ramsetty, MD endodocs@endocrinehelp.com
Medical Director Endocrine Care Group
www.endocrinehelp.com
Tel: 843-798-4227