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State-level diabetes recommendations may be poorly targeted

Category: Diabetes

A growing number of individuals are receiving positive HbA1c tests for diabetes, and a new study suggests that one reason for this may be that state programs aimed at addressing the situation are often not properly suited to tackling the problem in wider populations.

Researchers from the University of California, San Francisco analyzed the information 57 different state and local programs distribute to clinicians. They found that most state-level organizations obtain their recommendations from national clinical specialty organizations.

However, the team pointed out that the guidelines developed by these groups are generally intended to help individual diabetics manage their condition, not to direct population-wide efforts to reduce the burden of the disease.

"In order to improve diabetes health for populations, rather than individuals, we need to know how to maximize health and quality of life with the limited resources that are available," said Urmimala Sarkar, who led the study.

She recommended that new guidelines be developed to direct the efforts of public health organizations. This could have a positive impact on prevention efforts currently being conducted across the country.