About one-third of our nation’s near-21 million diabetics diabetics don’t get an annual A1C check as recommended by the American Diabetes Association, shows research from Total Therapeutic Management, Inc. (TTM).
What’s more, 65 percent of diabetics aren’t meeting their A1C goals of less than 7 percent, reveal statistics from TTM’s database of 40,000 diabetic patients. (The company claims to have conducted more medical chart reviews in the area of diabetes than any other company.)
Furthermore, many physicians don’t even know the percentage of their patients who aren’t meeting their A1C goals.
"The first step to quality improvement is the identification of patients at risk and letting the primary care giver physician know that they are at risk," said Barry Patel, Pharm.D., President and Co-Founder, Total Therapeutic Management, Inc.
It’s imperative for both patients and doctors to take action to confront and cope with diabetes.
Indeed, as American Diabetes Month is now underway, it’s vital to take heed of the warning signs — if we stick to couch-potato, sweets-consuming lifestyle, type 2 diabetes will continue to escalate.
Indeed, new stats from the CDC, released late last month, show that the incidence of diabetes has risen 14 percent in just two years. Indeed, nearly 21 million people have diabetes and another 41 million have pre-diabetes, as I discussed recently.
It’s imperative now, during National Diabetes Month, and throughout the year to drum into people with diabetes the urgency of properly managing their disease.
For instance, as TTM recomends, if you have diabetes, it’s important for you to:
- Monitor your blood sugar levels by testing regularly.
- Take medications prescribed by your doctor.
- Get your A1C number checked at least twice a year.
- Exercise regularly.
- Ask your doctor to check your kidney function each year.
- Carefully monitor your diet.
- Consider using specially designed computer programs to help you manage your disease.
Granted, the last suggestion is to promote TTM’s services, but the company’s ideas are useful.
Of course, I believe strongly — particularly because of the numerous studies I’ve learned about while droing extensive research for my upcoming book, SUGAR SHOCK! — that getting off refined carbs and sweets, combined with exercise, can be incredibly powerful ways to either prevent or cope with diabetes.
Want help kicking sweets so you can possibly avoid getting diabetes? Join my free, online, KickSugar support group. If you join by Nov. 16, you’ll also get complimentary admission to my 21-Day, Kick-Sugar Countdown, which begins Jan. 5. Learn more here.