Management of Type 2 Diabetes in the Primary Care Setting: A Practice-Based Research Network Study
Ann Fam Med Spann et al.
4: 23
The Article in Brief
Management of Type 2 Diabetes in the Primary Care Setting: A Practice-Based Research Network Study
Stephen J. Spann, MD, MBA
, and colleagues
Background Primary care clinicians treat many patients with diabetes. This study describes the care provided by primary care clinicians to their patients with type 2 diabetes.
What This Study Found Primary care clinicians provide intense diabetes care, including use of medications to lower glucose and cholesterol levels, and control blood pressure. Only a modest number of the 822 patients in this study (40.5%), however, actually achieved the established targets for diabetes control. More than one third were at or below the target blood pressure recommended by the American Diabetes Association.
Implications
- Patients with type 2 diabetes are commonly treated in primary care settings and have other conditions related to diabetes.
- Although treatment of hyperglycemia (high blood glucose levels) is somewhat successful, control of cardiovascular risk factors is poor and remains a serious challenge.
- These challenges reinforce the need to reorganize primary care practices and improve the systems that support the care of patients with chronic diseases, including diabetes.
