Call-to-action: timely and appropriate treatment for people with type 2 diabetes in Latin America.
Latin America faces a unique set of challenges in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This report identifies these challenges and provides a framework for implementation of the strategies, policies and education programs which are needed to optimize the management of this condition. In order to improve future diabetes care, it will be necessary to address existing problems such as limitation of resources, inadequate management of hyperglycemia, and inappropriate education of healthcare team members and people with diabetes. Achieving these goals will require collaborative efforts by many individuals, groups and organizations. These include policymakers, international organizations, healthcare providers, those responsible for setting medical school curricula, patients and society as a whole. It is anticipated that improved/continuing education of healthcare professionals, diabetes self-management education and development of a team approach for T2DM care will lead to optimization of patient-centered care. Implementation of multicentric demonstration studies and rational use of antidiabetic treatments will be necessary to demonstrate the long-term favorable impact of these strategies upon quality of care, prevention of chronic complications, mortality, healthcare costs and patient quality of life.
Hospital de Especialidades, Centro Medico Nacional de Occidente, Mexican Institute of Social Security, Guadalajara, Mexico. Electronic address: miguelescalante10@hotmail.com.
Miguel
M
Escalante
CENEXA. Centro de Endocrinología Experimental y Aplicada (UNLP-CONICET La Plata), PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre for Diabetes, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas UNLP, La Plata, Argentina.
Juan José
JJ
Gagliardino
Centro de Especialidades Medicas de Celaya, Latin University of Mexico in Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico.
Juan Rosas
JR
Guzmán
Institute for Children with Diabetes in Porto Alegre and the Brazilian Diabetes Society, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Balduino
B
Tschiedel
D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007843:Latin America; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D013997:Time Factors
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents
Cost of care; Diabetes mellitus, Type 2; Education; Latin America; Prevention