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Patients First Campaign Seeks New Approach To Diabetes Care WASHINGTON, D.C., May 8, 1997 -- The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) on behalf of patients with diabetes and their physicians today (Thursday) launched a campaign to change the nation's approach to the treatment of diabetes. "Today AACE is issuing a national wake-up call for a new approach. We are calling on patients with diabetes to step forward and change their lives," Dr. Stanley Feld, a former president of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), told a news conference here to announce the kickoff of a campaign called "Patients First." The Patients First campaign will urge patients with diabetes and their physicians to sign patient-physician contracts. The contracts provide that patients commits themselves to be responsible for their care (self-management) and that physicians teach patients how to follow an "intensive diabetes self-management system" supported by AACE. The concept of physician leadership of a team working with the patient on self-management is supported by the American Society of Internal Medicine and the American Medical Association. "The patient is the most important member of the team, which is led by the physician and includes diabetes educators, dietitians, exercise physiologists, and psychologists or psychiatrists," Feld explained. The goal for each patient is to keep his or her blood sugar level as near normal as is possible over time. The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) proved that near normalization of the blood sugar will reduce the complication rate of diabetes more than 50 percent. AACE believes that this reduction in complication rate will apply to both insulin-dependent patients and the 90 percent of people with diabetes who are non-insulin-dependent. Compared with conventional therapy patients, intensive therapy patients will on average have 15.3 more years of life free from significant diabetes complications as well as an average 5.1-year increase in lifespan, according to an article on the trial published last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association. "We are talking literally of enhancing and extending the lives of those with diabetes, while cutting in half the cost of care. In reality, all health care consumers pay for the eye, kidney, nervous system, cardiovascular and other complications of diabetes," Feld said. Those calling a toll-free hotline (888-50 SUGAR) or visiting AACE's internet web site (www.aace.com) will receive information about intensive diabetes self-management and a copy of the patient-physician contract. AACE represents more than 2,600 clinical endocrinologists across the nation who specialize in the treatment of diabetes and other endocrine system disorders. Also speaking at the news conference were Dr. Claresa Levetan and Dr. Helena Rodbard of AACE. Dr. Feld said the group's objective is to encourage use of the system and coverage for it by health plans. He said patients using the system manage their disease by measuring their blood sugars themselves and making modifications to their diet, exercise, insulin and/or oral medication to achieve normal or near normal blood sugars. "The patient is the key to success," Feld said. "We all have a stake in the outcome." E-mail this page to a friend or colleague! To print, use this version