March 9, 2022

Diabetes Emotional Distress – Using the 7 A’s Model in Clinical Practice

Practice Points - Diabetes Emotional Distress

In his recent post, Are Clinicians Missing Part of their Patients’ Story?, Garry Welch, Ph.D. described why it is important for clinicians who provide care for people with diabetes to understand what diabetes distress is and how it differs from depression. If depression has been identified properly through a screening tool, clinicians in non—provider roles …

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March 8, 2022

Five Ways Clinicians Can Support a Patient Experiencing Diabetes Distress

Practice Points - Diabetes Emotional Distress

Studies show that approximately 20–45% of patients living with diabetes are emotionally overwhelmed and at risk of disengaging from treatment or becoming depressed. Few doctors are aware of these patient struggles, but “diabetes distress” as it is known clinically, is now recognized as a key “vital sign” by both the Centers for Disease Control and the American Diabetes Association. These rates show that …

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March 5, 2022

Diabetes Emotional Distress – Are Clinicians Missing Part of their Patients’ Story?

Practice Points - Diabetes Emotional Distress

Today, healthcare organizations and clinicians are increasingly asked by payors and employers to improve care quality, reduce gaps in care, and foster patient engagement in treatment. This is part of a growing national emphasis on value-based and whole-person care, particularly for the costly chronic conditions that impact more than 133 million people in the US. …

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July 28, 2021

Helping Patients Get a Good Night’s Sleep

woman sleeping in bed near smartphone

Sleeping regularly and adequately is indispensable for quality of life. Getting a good night’s sleep contributes to feeling rested and refreshed, but so much more happens during sleep. Sleep rejuvenates the cardiovascular and immune systems and regulates the production of the body’s hormones such as leptin and ghrelin. These two hormones control appetite, and when …

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February 24, 2021

Giving Your Patients the Whole Truth About High Blood Pressure

Practice Points - Heart Health

The World Health Organization has declared hypertension a global health crisis. An astounding 45% of adults in the United States have high blood pressure, and it was a primary or contributing cause of death for almost 500,000 people in the United States in 2018 alone.   Yet, many people with hypertension take little heed of it. The …

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February 19, 2021

Five Ways to Help Patients Break Through the “I Don’t Have Time” Barrier to Physical Activity

Practice Points - Heart Health

Sedentary behavior is one of the five risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Physical activity is a boon for heart health as it reduces blood pressure and LDL cholesterol, increases HDL cholesterol, and promotes insulin selectivity. Also, it is a supportive aid to weight loss and an essential one for weight maintenance. Despite these benefits, less than 20% …

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January 27, 2021

The Case for CGM: Where does it fit in Primary Care?

Practice Points - The Case For CGM

Treatment of diabetes is a growing concern in the United States. In addition to being a significant challenge for individual patient management, diabetes is a burden on the healthcare system’s resources, especially its primary care physicians (PCPs). Thirty-four million people have diabetes (the overwhelming majority have type 2 diabetes), and 90% of patients with diabetes …

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January 20, 2021

The Case for CGM: Who Will Benefit Most from CGM Adoption?

Practice Points - The Case For CGM

Prescribing the right drug for the right patient is important for obtaining the best clinical results. The same concept is applicable to medical devices; choosing the proper device to fit the patient can make a world of difference in achieving the desired result. Theoretically, a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) can be a benefit to anyone …

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January 13, 2021

The Case for CGM: Who May Not Be a Good Candidate for CGM?

Practice Points - The Case For CGM

Personal continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) have been a salvation for many patients with diabetes, their caregivers, and their healthcare providers. They have introduced a world of glucose data that were previously unavailable via fingerstick monitoring and that can provide new insights. From a strictly technological standpoint, CGMs could help every person with diabetes improve their …

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