Coming soon: New ways to measure diabetes

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.

• satisfaction with overall diabetes care;

• satisfaction 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;

• management of patients with gestational diabetes.

12. Diabetes screening.

• measure of pre-diabetes.

13. Preventing infectious diseases.

• influenza vaccine;

• pneumonia vaccine.