Letter: Group strives to improve diabetes care

Monday, Dec. 26, 2005 | 7:49 a.m.

I read with interest your Dec. 12 story by Michelle Swafford that the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston is opening a satellite office in Las Vegas. This should be welcome news for diabetics.

Chronic diseases such as diabetes require much time to teach patients, and even more time to analyze their diabetes problems. Insurance coverage for diabetes education can be a challenge for some patients, and this has vexed all physicians involved in diabetes care. The Joslin clinic will be no different.

I would like to make your readers aware that the standard of care for diabetes has been evolving. The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) is an association of 5,000 endocrinologists with more than 1,000 international members. Our membership includes clinicians as well as leaders in diabetes care from notable centers, including the Cleveland and Mayo clinics. With their input, AACE has written cutting-edge guidelines for both inpatient and outpatient diabetes care.

The Las Vegas AACE chapter holds monthly meetings for continuing education, and recently held seminars on diabetes and endocrinology for primary care physicians. Two Las Vegas AACE members have been honored as "Clinician of the Year" by AACE.

Las Vegas members also serve on national AACE committees, and I currently serve on the board of directors. AACE members are actively engaged in promoting better diabetes care in Southern Nevada, including educating patients and health care providers.

Dr. Milton Wong Las Vegas