The Diabetes Initiative of South Carolina (DSC) and the statewide Diabetes Advisory Council (DAC) have approved the "South Carolina Guidelines for Diabetes Care - 2011."

The guidelines were announced by MUSC President Ray Greenberg, M.D., Ph.D., at the Diabetes Fall Symposium for Primary Health Care Professionals held at the Embassy Suites in the North Charleston Convention Center.
Daniel Lackland, DrPH, chairman of the DSC and MUSC Neurosciences professor, said the guidelines serve as a reference tool for diabetes care providers looking for the current, accepted clinical standards for the care of people with diabetes.

The guidelines help to improve patients' care experience by establishing and reviewing patients' self-management goals and increasing involvement in patients' care. The health of populations is improved by consistently using evidence-based diabetes care guidelines, and per capita health care costs will be reduced as the guidelines are implemented and care is coordinated across settings.

Greenberg said the guidelines come at a good time. "With the growing epidemic of obesity in our state and country, we anticipate a surge in the incidence of diabetes," he said. "To the extent that we can standardize and optimize care for patients with diabetes, we can help them better cope with this illness and avoid many of the complications that occur."
Consistent with recommendations endorsed by the American Diabetes Association and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, the concise document provides reliable, evidence-based care for diabetic patients.

The guidelines also help providers meet the requirements of the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting Program, Hospital Inpatient Quality Reporting Program and Meaningful Use Criteria for Electronic Health Records.