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Australian health care system useful in preventing diabetes progression
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The national health care system in Australia is effective in preventing the development of advanced diabetes complications and may play as important a role in diabetes management as blood glucose control measures, according to a study.
Neil J. Orr and S.C. Boyages at the University of Sydney compared 4,632 patients with diabetes who received their first laser photocoagulation treatments in 2000 with 4,632 patients with diabetes who had never received a laser treatment. The patterns of health care use between the two groups over the previous 7-year period were analyzed.
Significant differences in the levels of health care use were identified; cases were less likely to see a general practitioner, less likely to be tested for HbA1c or HDL cholesterol and less likely to see specialists or consultant physicians.
The study is published in the August issue of Diabetic Medicine.