General Cardiology

Management of Hyperglycemia and Diabetes in an Outpatient Cardiology Practice
Samer Jabbour^a, Susanna E. Bedell^a, Rami Alharethi^b, Robert Goldberg<sup>c

a</sup>Lown Cardiovascular Center and Harvard Medical School, Brookline, Mass.,
^bUniversity of Utah Hospitals, Salt Lake City, Utah, and
^cUniversity of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Mass., USA

Address of Corresponding Author

Cardiology 2002;97:183-186 (DOI: 10.1159/000063119)

  Key Words

• Diabetes
• Hyperglycemia
• Cardiologists' practice

  Abstract

There is inadequate information about how well cardiologists manage overt or latent diabetes. We reviewed charts of patients who died in an academic outpatient cardiology practice in the period from January 1995 to December 1997 in order to determine the prevalence of hyperglycemia and diabetes, as well as whether their management had been according to the established guidelines. We found that of 128 decedents (mean age 78 years), 22 had had recognized diabetes and 27 undiagnosed hyperglycemia. Evaluation and management of glycemia in either group had not adhered to guidelines, despite the presence of concomitant cardiovascular disease. This was true for assessment of long-term glycemic control or end organ damage, prescription of proper diet, and/or management of other cardiovascular complications. These findings indicate the need for more involvement by cardiologists in the care of patients with overt or latent diabetes beyond the steps taken against their established cardiovascular disease.

Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel

  Author Contacts

Susanna Bedell, MD
Lown Cardiovascular Center, 21 Longwood Avenue
Brookline, MA 02446 (USA)
Tel. +1 617 732 1318, Fax +1 617 734 576, E-Mail bambi51@directvinternet.com

  Article Information

Received: Received: January 21, 2002
Accepted after revision: March 17, 2002
Number of Figures : 0, Number of Tables : 2, Number of References : 10