Primary Care Organizations Are Not Paying Enough Attention to Prediabetes
Having prediabetes puts a person at a high risk for
type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes can lead to kidney
problems, heart problems, strokes and other
comorbidities. Thus, both healthcare and community
organizations are offering programs to combat
prediabetes so that type 2 diabetes may be delayed
or prevented. However, primary care organizations
need to play a bigger role in prediabetes treatment.
And currently, these organizations are not
participating as much as they could in the
treatment.
One study concludes “that few patients with undiagnosed prediabetes are even told that they are at high risk for diabetes.” Further, the study indicates “that diabetes prevention requires improved patient-centered care, which likely begins with the delivery of adequate information to patients.” There are reasons, however, why primary care organizations are reluctant to give a diagnosis and treatment for prediabetes. There is, at most, vague agreement on what prediabetes is, and some don’t think it is really a disease. And some feel that since there are other health conditions that are known to be serious, it is not a good idea to overburden the patient with more to worry about.
There are other reasons why primary care organizations are not participating in prediabetes treatment. A recent study suggested that providers may not be aware of how effective interventions are in reducing the risk of diabetes. And there may be a “lack of access to providers of dietary and exercise advice.”
At any rate, the study concluded: “most patients with confirmed prediabetes do not receive appropriate care.” And “that the approach of primary care toward prediabetes needs to change if we are to effectively prevent diabetes.”
More attention should be given to the diagnosis and treatment of prediabetes in order to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), or National DPP, is a good place to start.
One study concludes “that few patients with undiagnosed prediabetes are even told that they are at high risk for diabetes.” Further, the study indicates “that diabetes prevention requires improved patient-centered care, which likely begins with the delivery of adequate information to patients.” There are reasons, however, why primary care organizations are reluctant to give a diagnosis and treatment for prediabetes. There is, at most, vague agreement on what prediabetes is, and some don’t think it is really a disease. And some feel that since there are other health conditions that are known to be serious, it is not a good idea to overburden the patient with more to worry about.
There are other reasons why primary care organizations are not participating in prediabetes treatment. A recent study suggested that providers may not be aware of how effective interventions are in reducing the risk of diabetes. And there may be a “lack of access to providers of dietary and exercise advice.”
At any rate, the study concluded: “most patients with confirmed prediabetes do not receive appropriate care.” And “that the approach of primary care toward prediabetes needs to change if we are to effectively prevent diabetes.”
More attention should be given to the diagnosis and treatment of prediabetes in order to prevent or delay type 2 diabetes. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), or National DPP, is a good place to start.
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posted by Information Uncover at
12:56 PM
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