Overcoming barriers to diabetic polyneuropathy management in primary care

Alyce S Adams; Brian Callaghan; Richard W Grant

doi:10.1016/j.hjdsi.2016.10.003

Overcoming barriers to diabetic polyneuropathy management in primary care

Healthc (Amst). 2017 Dec;5(4):171-173. doi: 10.1016/j.hjdsi.2016.10.003. Epub 2016 Dec 7.

Authors

Alyce S Adams¹, Brian Callaghan², Richard W Grant³

Affiliations

¹ Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, 2000 Broadway, Oakland, California 94131, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, University Hospital South Room F2593, 1500 E Medical Center Dr. SPC 5036, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
³ Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, 2000 Broadway, Oakland, California 94131, USA.

Abstract

Diabetic polyneuropathy is a highly prevalent and costly complication of diabetes that is frequently underdiagnosed and undertreated in primary care settings. In this article, we discuss challenges in the management of diabetic polyneuropathy symptoms, including diagnostic complexity, the limited efficacy and high side effect rates associated with available treatments and the time constrained primary care visit. We call for the development of novel patient-centric, system-level strategies that engage patients between physician visits in order to facilitate timely communication of symptoms and treatment response and to promote patient-centered care.

Keywords: Diabetes; Neuropathy; Primary care.

MeSH terms

Communication
Diabetic Neuropathies / epidemiology
Diabetic Neuropathies / therapy*
Disease Management*
Humans
Patient-Centered Care
Primary Health Care / economics
Primary Health Care / methods*
Professional-Patient Relations

Abstract

MeSH terms

Grants and funding