Identification and Prevention: Underutilized Tools in Diabetes Treatment?

I n recent years, we have seen significant progress in the area of diabetes management. The importance of applying innovative approaches tailored to the specific needs and characteristics of patients, using technology such as mobile smartphones and “apps” to make the process more convenient and patient-friendly and focusing on analytics and outcomes to establish the best path to improving patient health, has been recognized. Although the disease continues to do harm at an alarming rate and there remains much work to be done, the importance of implementing new ways to educate and assist patients has been acknowledged.However, efforts to find improved methods to help patients manage their diabetes may have overshadowed an equally important element: identifying those with or at significant risk of developing the disease who are unaware of their condition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly 7 million of the 26 million people affected by diabetes in the United States fall into this …