NOTHING BUT THE FACTS

NOTHING BUT THE FACTS
Why diabetes?
The Ohio Quality Improvement Consortium has developed a clinical checklist, based on a national standard, for area physicians, hospitals and other health care professionals to be used with diabetic patients. OQIC represents a collaboration of health care entities that rarely get together -- hospitals, physician groups, health plans, professional organizations, employers and union representatives.
MORTALITY RATES
Diabetes mortality rates from 1999 per 100,000 people, adjusted for population age, in which diabetes was the underlying, if not immediate, cause of death.
United States: 25.2.
Ohio: 32.4.
Columbiana County: 39.8.
Trumbull County: 36.8.
Mahoning County: 35.0.
FYI
U Prevalence of diabetes in the adult population 18 years of age and older: 6 percent.
U Diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death in Ohio and the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
CHECKLIST
Part of a clinical checklist developed for area physicians, adapted from national guidelines.
U Check blood pressure and weight.
U Examine skin, nails, feet for signs of breakdown.
U Prescribe smoking cessation counseling or referral if needed.
U Assess risk factors, such as a family history of diabetes.
U Perform lipid (cholesterol and triglycerides) testing and prescribe life style modification and/or drugs if targets are unmet.
U Comprehensive foot exam, both sensory and vascular.
U Dilated eye exam by ophthalmologist or optometrist.
U Kidney function testing (urine test).
U Examine teeth and oral soft tissue for caries and breakdown.
U Administer appropriate immunizations.
U Check patient's self monitoring log book, diet, exercise, and medication compliance.
U Make referrals to specialists if unable to achieve desired goals of treatment.
Sources: Ohio Department of Health/American Diabetes Association/Ohio Quality Improvement Consortium