Program offers educational tools for diabetes care

The National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) has announced two new evidence-based publications for health care providers and patients. Guiding Principles for Diabetes Care helps providers identify people with pre-diabetes and undiagnosed diabetes and provide patient-centered care. A companion booklet for people with diabetes, "4 Steps to Control Your Diabetes for Life," helps providers educate patients in vital self-care principles and to be active partners in their own care. To order free copies of both publications, visit the NDEP web site at www.ndep.nih.gov/ or call (800) 438-5383.

More than 18 million Americans have diabetes and about 40% of adults ages 40-74 have pre-diabetes, placing them at increased risk for diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The NDEP is a partnership of the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other organizations.