Diabetes Care Moving Forward with New Measurements

At its most recent meeting in October 1997, the committee charged with making recommendations for the Diabetes Quality Improvement Project developed a list of potential measurement areas. According to the National Committee for Quality Assurance in Washington, DC, "The committee agreed that the list represented a comprehensive set of diabetes measurement areas." Measurement areas include:

1. Glucose control:

• glycohemoglobin (tests performed, results)

• self-monitoring of blood glucose

• discharge rates for acute metabolic events

2. Foot care:

• foot exams

• discharge rates for amputation

3. Eye care:

• retinal exams

• vision function

• blindness

4. Smoking/tobacco control:

• medical advice to quit smoking

• cessation rate

• prevalence rate

5. Lipid management/control:

• lipid profiles

• LDL control

• discharge rates for acute vascular events

6. Urinary protein monitoring:

• renal screening

• discharge rates for acute nephropathy events

7. Hypertension control:

• blood pressure control/management

• discharge rates for acute vascular events

8. Patient knowledge and behavior:

• self-management education

• medical nutrition therapy

• health education

9. Patient satisfaction:

• with overall diabetes care

• with access to diabetes care and providers

10. Functional status:

• maintenance of daily activities

• avoiding hospital stays

• coping with disease management

11. Diabetes in pregnancy:

• screening for gestational diabetes

• managing patients with gestational diabetes

12. Diabetes screening:

• measure of pre-diabetes

13. Preventing infectious diseases:

• influenza vaccine

• pneumonia vaccine