Project DOC aims to reduce diabetes risks

Valley Morning Star, June 23, 2015

The University of Texas System aims to use social, mobile and cloud technology — with cognitive analytical tools — to develop health care delivery solutions customized for individual patients in the Rio Grande Valley. Lydia Chin, UT System’s associate vice chancellor for Health Transformations and chief innovation officer of Health Affairs for the UT System, said Project Diabetes and Obesity Control (DOC) began more than a year ago.

Chin said the system has been investing in the Rio Grande Valley with the development of the new UT Rio Grande Valley, the UTRGV School of Medicine — which is set to open in 2016 — and the South Texas Diabetes and Obesity Institute, which will bring a research team to look into the disease in the area. Read more.

Combined Diet and Physical Activity Promotion Programs for Prevention of Diabetes: Community Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement

Annals of Internal Medicine, 14 July 2015

Description: Community Preventive Services Task Force (Task Force) recommendation on the use of combined diet and physical activity promotion programs to reduce progression to type 2 diabetes in persons at increased risk.…

Recommendation: The Task Force recommends the use of combined diet and physical activity promotion programs by health care systems, communities, and other implementers to provide counseling and support to clients identified as being at increased risk for type 2 diabetes. Economic evidence indicates that these programs are cost-effective. Read more.

Ethnic Differences in Geriatric Conditions and Diabetes Complications Among Older, Insured Adults With Diabetes: The Diabetes and Aging Study

J Aging Health, August 2015

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate ethnic differences in burden of prevalent geriatric conditions and diabetic complications among older, insured adults with diabetes.… Discussion: Among these insured older adults, ethnic health patterns varied substantially; differences were frequently small and rates were often better among select minority groups, suggesting progress toward the Healthy People 2020 objective to reduce health disparities. Read more.

Red meat, dairy, and insulin sensitivity: a randomized crossover intervention study

Am J Clin Nutr, 25 March 2015

Background: Epidemiologic studies have linked high consumption of red and processed meat with risk of developing type 2 diabetes, whereas high dairy consumption has been associated with decreased risk, but interventions have been limited.

Objective: We compared the effects on insulin sensitivity of consuming a diet high in lean red meat with minimal dairy, a diet high in dairy primarily low fat (from milk, yogurt, or custard) with no red meat, and a control diet that contained neither red meat nor dairy.…

Conclusion: In contrast to some epidemiologic findings, these results suggest that high consumption of dairy reduces insulin sensitivity compared with a diet high in lean red meat in overweight and obese subjects, some of whom had glucose intolerance. Read more.

A Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Telemedical and Standard Outpatient Monitoring of Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Diabetes Care 26 June 2015

OBJECTIVE The role of telemedical monitoring in diabetic foot ulcer care is still uncertain. Our aim was to compare telemedical and standard outpatient monitoring in the care of patients with diabetic foot ulcers in a randomized controlled trial.…

CONCLUSIONS The findings of no significant difference regarding amputation and healing between telemedical and standard outpatient monitoring seem promising; however, for telemedical monitoring, a higher mortality throws into question the role of telemedicine in monitoring diabetic foot ulcers. Further studies are needed to investigate effects of telemedicine on mortality and other clinical outcomes and to identify patient subgroups that may have a poorer outcome through telemedical monitoring. Read more.

Report raises concerns over health care among blacks

Statesman 5 March 2015

Death rates have fallen in Travis County for blacks, whites and Hispanics since 1999, but big gaps remain for African-Americans, who continue to have the highest mortality for cancer, heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

The most recent data from the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department suggest that while efforts to improve the health of local residents appear to be paying off, blacks struggle the most and Hispanics generally have lower death rates than blacks or whites. Read more.

Lessons from Medicare Advantage on Effective Treatment of Diabetes

Better Medicare Alliance, 18 February 2015

Dr. Gary Puckrein, President & CEO, National Minority Quality Forum

The scourge of diabetes is well known to all of us in the health care community, especially among those of us who work with minority populations. Approximately, one-quarter of the Medicare population has Type 2 diabetes, and the numbers are only increasing. The current fee-for-service system is not conducive to effective diabetes care. Patients are predominantly treated in primary care practice settings where providers have limited time and are often ill-equipped to deal with the complex medical and psychosocial needs of diabetic patients. Read more.