New online tools support optimal treatment decisions at point of care

Diabetes resources for health professionals focus on five themes

MONTRÉAL, Oct. 19, 2013 /CNW/ - Health care providers have access to new tools that support the latest recommendations to guide care for people living with diabetes.

Today, at the 16^th annual Canadian Diabetes Association and Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism Professional Conference and Annual Meetings, health care experts are presenting new tools that will assist colleagues with implementing the 2013 Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Prevention and Management of Diabetes in Canada (Guidelines).

The Guidelines is a 212-page, 38-chapter, evidenced-based resource that is recognized internationally and sets the gold standard for diabetes care and management. An expert committee of physicians, certified diabetes educators, and Canadian Diabetes Association staff refined the information into five major themes. These include: Screening & Diagnosis; Blood Glucose (sugar) Lowering (in-patient and out-patient); Vascular Protection; Self-Management Education; and Team Care & Organizing Diabetes Care.

Dr. Jan Hux, Chief Scientific Advisor for the Canadian Diabetes Association, says there is a need to ensure the Guidelines key findings and recommendations simplify assessment, and personalize the management of the disease. "This crucial information will allow health care professionals to determine the best early management and treatment path to help reduce the potential for serious complications down the road," she says.

Dr. Catherin Yu, the chair of the 2013 Guidelines Dissemination and Implementation committee says new interactive decision-support tools will help physicians screen and diagnose the disease and offer people living with diabetes the ability to self-assess their best personal options for A1C (the average blood glucose levels over a two to three month period) targets, protect their heart health, and many other aspects of treatment. "Today's symposium will highlight the core themes from the Guidelines with a live demonstration of the online decision-support tools that are built on the new recommendations. In addition, we will introduce new tools to facilitate collaboration among health care providers, to engage and empower patients to set their own self-management path, which will help ensure the best outcomes for all people living with diabetes," she says.

The importance of the Guidelines is highlighted by the fact that diabetes rates in Canada have doubled over the past decade, with one in every three Canadians projected to have either diabetes or prediabetes by 2020. If not managed properly, diabetes can lead to significant secondary complications, such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure and limb amputations. The new Guidelines tools are crucial for both the medical community and the growing number of Canadians living with diabetes.

About the Canadian Diabetes Association          
Across the country, the Canadian Diabetes Association is leading the fight against diabetes by helping people with diabetes live healthy lives while we work to find a cure.  Our community-based network of supporters help us provide education and services to people living with diabetes, advocate for our cause, break ground towards a cure and translate research into practical applications.  Please visit diabetes.ca, join us on facebook.com/CanadianDiabetesAssociation, follow us on Twitter @DiabetesAssoc, or call 1-800-BANTING (226-8464).

About the 16^th Annual Canadian Diabetes Association and Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism Professional Conference and Annual Meetings
Diabetes clinicians, researchers and educators from across Canada and around the world will come together to share their knowledge, ideas and experiences at this year's Professional Conference and Annual Meetings from Oct. 17 to Oct. 19 in Montréal, Que. as part of Vascular 2013.

Access conference news releases and real time updates at www.diabetes.ca or follow conference highlights on Twitter at #cda13.

About Vascular 2013
Vascular 2013 is a unique, one-time Canadian event bringing four separate scientific meetings together under one roof: the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress, the Canadian Diabetes Association and the Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism Professional Conference, the Canadian Stroke Congress and the Canadian Hypertension Congress.  www.vascular2013.ca

It is a joint initiative of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, the Canadian Diabetes Association/Canadian Society of Endocrinology and Metabolism, the Canadian Stroke Network, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and Hypertension Canada.

Statements and conclusions of study authors are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect Vascular 2013 host organizations' policy or position. They make no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability.

SOURCE: Canadian Diabetes Association

For interviews or for more information, please contact: 

Christian Ahuet
Consultant
Massy Forget Langlois Public Relations
[phone], ext. 29
Cell: [phone]

Katie Ostler
Manager, Communications
Canadian Diabetes Association
Cell/On-site: [phone]
[email protected]

Conference information and media registration is at www.vascular2013.ca