Patient-Specific Diabetes Report Helps Understand Test Results and Implement Recommendations

The new Diabetes Patient Education Report for type 2 diabetes patients, offered by diagnostics technologies company Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (LabCorp; Burlington, NC, USA), supports the goals and recommendations of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) “Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes – 2015” (a supplement to the January 2015 issue of its journal Diabetes Care). The report is a patient-specific education tool that graphically displays results for key tests used to monitor diabetes and its complications, such as hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), LDL cholesterol, and urine albumin. LabCorp’s report can be conveniently ordered by clinicians treating patients with elevated HbA1c results or a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

The report is LabCorp’s new addition to its suite of decision-support tools available to assist clinicians and patients in the management of common chronic diseases.

“Patient awareness and education are critical components to improve diabetes care,” said Mark Brecher, MD, chief medical officer, LabCorp, “Consistent with our 5-pillar strategy, these reports provide knowledge of the disease state and treatment recommendations to patients and physicians. Our Diabetes Patient Education report facilitates dialogue between physicians and patients to better address this complex and serious disease, leading to better treatment decisions and enhanced patient outcomes.”

Type 2 accounts for approximately 95% of adult cases of diabetes. Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, and is the leading cause of adult blindness, kidney failure, and non-traumatic amputations. Fewer than 15% of patients successfully achieve recommended goals for levels of blood sugar, blood pressure, or cholesterol, combined with smoking cessation. ADA’s 2015 diabetes guideline update calls for improved diabetes care through the adoption of “patient-centered” and evidenced-based treatment decisions that are tailored to individual patients, reducing cardiovascular risk through blood pressure and lipid control, smoking cessation, weight management, exercise, and other healthy lifestyle changes.

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Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (LabCorp)