Brussels, Belgium, 28 September 1999: Studies presented at this year's congress of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) show that involving individuals with diabetes in the management of their condition could improve their quality of care. (1,2) The results indicate that most individuals with diabetes believe their condition to be well controlled, despite evidence of the high prevalence of serious long-term complications in type 2 diabetes. (3)
"Many people with type 2 diabetes believe that their diabetes is under control and do not appreciate its progressive nature," said Dr Arun Baksi from the World Health Organization/International Diabetes Federation (WHO/IDF) Patient Empowerment Workshop.
In the long term, excess blood glucose due to diabetes causes irreparable damage to many areas of the body. This can include:
Heart disease . In industrialised countries, 5075% of deaths of people with type 2 diabetes are due to heart disease. (4)
Stroke . The risk of stroke is 24 times higher for people with diabetes in the USA. (4)
Kidney failure about 40% of people with type 1 diabetes develop severe kidney disease by the age of 50. The risk is also increased (17-fold) in those with type 2 diabetes. (4)
Blindness . 15 years after diagnosis with diabetes, 10% of individuals have developed severe visual handicap due to diabetic eye disease. (4)
Nerve Damage . 10% of men with diabetes are impotent and approximately 50% of non-traumatic lower limb amputations are the result of nerve damage due to diabetes. (4)
Despite this, the results of a major UK survey of over 450 individuals with diabetes indicate that only half of individuals receiving oral anti-diabetic drugs are concerned about future health problems. (1) The survey also showed that around three-quarters of individuals believe their condition is well controlled. (1) This suggests physicians need to give individuals with diabetes more information about the serious nature of their condition and involve them in decisions about its management.
In fact, the majority of people surveyed did want to be involved in the way their condition was managed. Almost 80% of individuals using oral drugs to treat their diabetes felt that their physicians should discuss the available treatment options with them. (2) Respondents also desired a greater role in treatment decisions, with over 70% feeling confident that they could make some choices themselves.(2)
These results highlight the importance of patient education in the treatment of diabetes. By involving individuals in treatment decisions, alerting them to new drug treatments and educating them about the serious nature of their condition, physicians have the potential to improve the quality of life of people with diabetes and help to reduce the number of deaths caused by this condition.
Dr Baksi concludes: "Simply by openly discussing treatment choices with their patients, physicians can make an enormous difference to the quality of diabetes care."
Note to editors
The St Vincent Declaration (SVD), jointly developed by the WHO and the IDF in 1989, and endorsed by European governments, states that the goals of improving the health of and preventing complications in people with diabetes will only be achieved with the active participation of people with diabetes, through patient empowerment.
Major funding for this study was provided by a grant from SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, Inc., with additional support provided by Abbott Laboratories, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly & Company, LifeScan and Novo Nordisk.
References
- Baksi AK, Gormley DA & WHO/IDF Patient Empowerment Workshop. How concerned are people about their diabetes? Poster 974 presented at EASD 1999.
- Gormley DA, Baksi AK & WHO/IDF Patient Empowerment Workshop. Do people with diabetes desire a role in diabetes treatment decisions? Poster 973 presented at EASD 1999.
- Gomis R. Introduction to "The Current State of Type 2 Diabetes Care". Postgraduate Medicine 1999; Supplement.
- World Health Organization/International Diabetes Federation. The economics of diabetes and diabetes care A report of the Diabetes Health Economics Study Group. Brussels: IDF; 1999. p.22.