New Diabetes Mellitus Study Results from A.K. Saha et al Described (A new model for diabetes-focused capacity building – lessons from Sri Lanka)

Diabetes Week

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Diabetes Week -- New research on Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases and Conditions - Diabetes Mellitus is the subject of a report. According to news reporting originating from Ann Arbor, Michigan, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, "Sri Lanka is experiencing a rapid increase in the number of people with diabetes mellitus (DM) due to population growth and aging. Physician shortages, outdated technology, and insufficient health education have contributed to the difficulties associated with managing the burden of disease."

Our news editors obtained a quote from the research, "New models of chronic disease management are needed to address the increasing prevalence of DM. Medical students, business students, and faculty members from the University of Michigan partnered with the Grace Girls' Home, Trincomalee General Hospital, and Selvanayakapuram Central Hospital to identify and train diabetes-focused medical assistants (MAs) to collect and enter patient data and educate patients about their disease. Return visits to these MAs were encouraged so that patient progress and disease progression could be tracked longitudinally. Data entry was conducted through a cloud-based mechanism, facilitating patient management and descriptive characterization of the population. We implemented this pilot program in June 2016 in coordination with Trincomalee General Hospital and Selvanayakapuram Central Hospital. Over a 12-month period, 93 patients were systematically assessed by the medical assistants. All patients received education and were provided materials after the visit to better inform them about the importance of controlling their disease. Fifteen percent (14/93) of patients returned for follow-up consultation. Trained MAs have the potential to provide support to physicians working in congested health systems in low-resource settings. Public investment in training programs for MAs and greater acceptance by physicians and patients will be essential for handling the growing burden associated with chronic illnesses like DM."

According to the news editors, the research concluded: "Trained MAs may also play a role in improved patient education and awareness regarding diabetes self-management."

For more information on this research see: A new model for diabetes-focused capacity building - lessons from Sri Lanka. Clinical Diabetes and Endocrinology, 2018;4():22 (see also Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases and Conditions - Diabetes Mellitus).

The news editors report that additional information may be obtained by contacting A.K. Saha, 1University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States. Additional authors for this research include N. Gunaratnam, R. Patil, M. Choo, D.P. Bagchi, E. Jhaveri, J. Wyckoff, G. Bahu, U. Balis, P. Clyde and W.H Herman.