Research Information For Scientists

Type 2 Diabetes Decision Trees in Specialty Practice: Role in Care and Consultation

Activity Description

CME Release Date: 1/7/10
CME Expiration Date: 1/7/11

This activity is supported by an educational grant from Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Statement of Need

Clinical treatment guidelines have been developed by ADA, AACE, and Joslin Diabetes Center to provide common templates for patient care decisions upon which specialists and primary care providers can build individualized treatment for their patients. Because recent evidence suggests a gap in the knowledge and skill levels of many primary care providers in achieving the treatment goals for their patients, it is unclear whether these guidelines truly promote knowledge flow toward the primary care physician.

This activity examines the role of clinical guidelines as a common template for clinical decision-making and treatment processes for people with type 2 diabetes. Faculty summarize the components of the major type 2 diabetes treatment guidelines (ADA, AACE, Joslin) and the evidence in support of key recommendations, then gauge attitudes toward these guidelines for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, how they influence treatment decisions, and how guidelines are perceived as playing a role in ongoing patient care interactions between primary care practices and regional specialists.

The successful achievement of treatment goals for people with diabetes is a complex issue requiring multiple steps along the pathway from research to clinical care to patient outcomes. While it is important to recognize that many factors contribute to a clinical decision, the first step—the focus on the basic decision tree for clinicians—must be in place for other parts of the process to function. This activity will help participants develop a more comprehensive understanding of the evidence and rationale behind treatment algorithms for type 2 diabetes to help clinicians critically examine their own process for making therapeutic choices, and to determine which decision trees are useful to them in the care of their own patients as well as in their interactions with primary care physicians.

Target Audience

Diabetologists, endocrinologists, and internists with a clinical focus on the treatment of diabetes, and primary care providers caring for people with diabetes within their practice.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

  • Describe evidence supporting recommendations in major type 2 diabetes treatment algorithms for goals and methods of therapy
  • Describe differences in algorithms and how each algorithm may impact treatment decisions in similar or different ways
  • Apply nationally recognized treatment guidelines to clinical practice to close gaps in specialty care for people with type 2 diabetes
  • Utilize preferred clinical guidelines to optimize care and communication through ongoing interprofessional interactions between primary care physicians and specialists

Faculty and Disclosures

Om P. Ganda, MD
Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Director, Lipid Clinic
Joslin Diabetes Center
Boston, MA

Also on the Planning Committee.

Disclosure
Dr Ganda is on the speakers bureau for Abbott Laboratories, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, Kos Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Novo Nordisk Inc., Pfizer Inc, sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.; is on the speakers bureau and receives grant/research support from Eli Lilly and Company; and is a consultant and on the speakers bureau for Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.

Paul S. Jellinger, MD, MACE
Professor of Medicine, Voluntary Faculty
University of Miami
Miami, FL
Past President, American College of Endocrinology
American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE)

Disclosure
Dr. Jellinger is on the speakers bureau for Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck & Co., Inc., Novo Nordisk Inc., and Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, Inc.

Bernard Zinman, MD, MDCM, FACP, FRCP
Professor of Medicine
University of Toronto
Director, Leadership Sinai Centre for Diabetes
Mount Sinai Hospital
Toronto, Ontario

Disclosure
Dr. Zinman is a consultant for Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Eli Lilly and Company, and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation; is a consultant and receives grant/research support from GlaxoSmithKline; and receives grant/research support from and is a consultant and on the speakers bureau for Merck & Co., Inc., and Novo Nordisk Inc.

Planning Committee:

Richard S. Beaser, MD
Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Medical Executive Director, Professional Education
Joslin Diabetes Center
Boston, MA

Disclosure
Dr. Beaser is on the academic advisory board for AstraZeneca/Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Julie A. Brown
Director
Professional Education
Joslin Diabetes Center
Boston, MA

Disclosure
Ms. Brown has no relevant financial relationships.

James Neighbours, MEd
Assistant Director
Education Technology Services
Professional Education
Joslin Diabetes Center
Boston, MA

Disclosure
Mr. Neighbours has no relevant financial relationships.

Accreditation and Designation of Credit

The Joslin Diabetes Center designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Estimated Time to Complete Activity
1.5 hours

Computer Requirements

To participate in this activity, your computer will need the following hardware and software:

Credit Instructions

How to Obtain Credit:

  1. Read the target audience, learning objectives, and faculty disclosures.
  2. Study the educational content online.
  3. Complete the online postest and evaluation.
  4. Physicians who receive a grade of 70% or better on the posttest and complete the evaluation will receive immediate CME credit.
  5. All other participants who receive a grade of 70% or better on the posttest and who complete the evaluation will receive a certificate of participation.

Questions About This Activity

For questions regarding the content of this activity, contact the accredited provider for this CME activity:cme@joslin.harvard.edu

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