A new study in America reveals that both patients and doctors display a shocking level of ignorance about diabetes, and that many patients need serious help with managing their condition.
The study found that whilst many patients believe they understand their condition, they are not doing their best to control it, and doctors cannot help them.
An expert from the Cleveland Clinic, who is a part of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists reports shed light on the matter at a news conference: “Diabetes prevalence has almost doubled since 1980 in America.”
The meeting, known as the Diabetes Roundtable, debated reasons for failure to manage type 2 diabetes: “We all agreed that the future of good diabetes care will not rely on a single doctor. Realistically, one doctor can’t do everything for a patient.”
Together with the AACE, the American Association of Diabetes Educators commissioned a Harris poll of 780 patients and over 400 primary care physicians. Speaking on behalf of the Educators, one Donna Rice said that the findings revealed the ‘disconnect’ between what patients know and what they do.
Diabetes is now the sixth highest cause of death in the United States, and affects approaching 200 million people worldwide.

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