VIDEO: HbA1c focus of diabetes education program

LAS VEGAS – In its fourth year, the Blood Sugar Basics program, which is the American College of Endocrinology and Merck’s diabetes education program, is turning its attention to hemoglobin A_1c, because many patients with diabetes fail to achieve an HbA_1c of 6.5% or less, the program’s leaders said.

This year’s campaign was unveiled at the annual meeting of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.

With the goal of increasing the number of patients who achieve their HbA_1c goal, the program has established three missions for patients: Talk to your physician; set goals and commit to a plan; and revisit and reassess.

The program’s website (bloodsugarbasics.com), which has had a facelift, provides forms and easy-to-follow guidelines for patients. The association is also distributing printed information about the program to AACE members, and this year, it is reaching out to primary care physicians, because there simply aren’t enough endocrinologists, said Dr. Etie Moghissi, who has helped develop the program since its inception in 2010.

Blood Sugar Basics is among a handful of credible diabetes education programs online, including the National Diabetes Education Program.

In a video interview, Dr. Moghissi of the department of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, explains the program’s goals, and why physicians should consider it as an educational source for their patients.

[email protected]

On Twitter @naseemsmiller

LAS VEGAS – In its fourth year, the Blood Sugar Basics program, which is the American College of Endocrinology and Merck’s diabetes education program, is turning its attention to hemoglobin A_1c, because many patients with diabetes fail to achieve an HbA_1c of 6.5% or less, the program’s leaders said.

This year’s campaign was unveiled at the annual meeting of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.

With the goal of increasing the number of patients who achieve their HbA_1c goal, the program has established three missions for patients: Talk to your physician; set goals and commit to a plan; and revisit and reassess.

The program’s website (bloodsugarbasics.com), which has had a facelift, provides forms and easy-to-follow guidelines for patients. The association is also distributing printed information about the program to AACE members, and this year, it is reaching out to primary care physicians, because there simply aren’t enough endocrinologists, said Dr. Etie Moghissi, who has helped develop the program since its inception in 2010.

Blood Sugar Basics is among a handful of credible diabetes education programs online, including the National Diabetes Education Program.

In a video interview, Dr. Moghissi of the department of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, explains the program’s goals, and why physicians should consider it as an educational source for their patients.

[email protected]

On Twitter @naseemsmiller

LAS VEGAS – In its fourth year, the Blood Sugar Basics program, which is the American College of Endocrinology and Merck’s diabetes education program, is turning its attention to hemoglobin A_1c, because many patients with diabetes fail to achieve an HbA_1c of 6.5% or less, the program’s leaders said.

This year’s campaign was unveiled at the annual meeting of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists.

With the goal of increasing the number of patients who achieve their HbA_1c goal, the program has established three missions for patients: Talk to your physician; set goals and commit to a plan; and revisit and reassess.

The program’s website (bloodsugarbasics.com), which has had a facelift, provides forms and easy-to-follow guidelines for patients. The association is also distributing printed information about the program to AACE members, and this year, it is reaching out to primary care physicians, because there simply aren’t enough endocrinologists, said Dr. Etie Moghissi, who has helped develop the program since its inception in 2010.

Blood Sugar Basics is among a handful of credible diabetes education programs online, including the National Diabetes Education Program.

In a video interview, Dr. Moghissi of the department of medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, explains the program’s goals, and why physicians should consider it as an educational source for their patients.

[email protected]

On Twitter @naseemsmiller