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Online team care approach to managing diabetes
Palo Alto's daily newspaper is a bit of a rag, but I like to read it because it has (almost) all the news that's fit to print--AP wire stories and local headlines. I confess, however, that I was surprised to find a front-page story this morning that seemed blog-worthy.
A local health clinic--the Palo Alto Medical Foundation--is launching an online diabetes management system, with the help of a $1.2 million federal grant. The program is designed to provide support to diabetes patients, and to help them "accomplish what years of doctor visits rarely do"--improve diet, exercise, and other lifestyle habits.
Four hundred people will be enrolled in the study, which will have participants log on to enter blood glucose levels, food journal data, and exercise logs. Health care staff, including nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and dieticians, will then closely monitor the information. The system provides immediate feedback to patients, graphically illustrating for them how their risk of complications is directly related to their blood sugar levels. Participants will also be able to use wireless technology to upload and download information.