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The Partnership for Health and Accountability (PHA) Diabetes Special Interest Group (SIG) is working toward the vision to improve care provided to Georgians diagnosed with diabetes. Formed in 2003, the SIG is comprised of medical specialists from the fields of internal medicine, endocrinology, family practice, pharmacology, nursing, nutrition, and diabetes education all over the state of Georgia. The mission of the PHA Diabetes SIG is to: Monitor, evaluate, and enhance diabetes care in the state of Georgia According to Dr. William Rowley’s report, “The Looming Diabetes Crisis in Georgia: What it is now and what it will become by 2025,”1 there will be a 230% increase in diabetes cases in our state over the next twenty years. Diabetes costs per year are $5 billion and are expected to increase to almost $12 billion per year. Currently, new cases of blindness occur at 1000 per year, there are also 1,700 new cases of renal failure, and 3,400 lower limb amputations in Georgia alone. These devastating complications are expected to more than double by 2025. Preventing and controlling diabetes and the complications of diabetes are crucial. The PHA Diabetes SIG has chosen to initially focus on hospitalized patients. Recent studies2,3 have shown great improvement in hospitalized patient’s outcomes when blood glucose is closely monitored and managed. Current hospital practices present challenges and obstacles to the practitioner making glucose management difficult. Insulin is a fundamental pharmacologic tool employed to treat hyperglycemia and manage diabetes. Standardization will enhance the practitioner’s ability to provide quality care to patients in Georgia. The PHA Diabetes SIG, through expert review, has determined key elements for the standardization of insulin use. We believe that these elements should be embodied in a formal written policy with which all nursing, pharmacy, and other allied health professionals are familiar. In order to improve care provided to Georgians diagnosed with diabetes, the PHA Diabetes SIG has developed a toolkit for practitioners and policy makers to use to assess current insulin guideline set(s). The group is using research and evidenced based, best practice information to provide these guidelines and members are currently conducting research to add support to these recommendations. Care of persons with diabetes is a dynamic process and information must be updated regularly. For more information, please contact Joyce Reid at: jreid@gha.org 1Rowley, William, “The Looming Diabetes Crisis in Georgia: What it is now and what it will become by 2025” CDC publication, May, 2006 3Krinsley, James S, Association Between Hyperglycemia and Increased Hospital Mortality in a Heterogeneous Population of Critically Ill Patients, From the Division of Critical Care, The Stamford Hospital, Stamford, Conn |
