November 25, 2015

Thanks NY Times, Please Consider Diabetes Testing too.

The New York Time has a Piece titled,  "F.D.A. Targets Inaccurate Medical Tests, Citing Dangers and Costs" up this week. It is a good bit about the accuracy of medical lab tests.

I am thankful for attention to patient safety driven by quality testing. That applies at home as well as the lab. So I sen this to the reporter. Fee free to join me in asking for equal attention to the test people with diabetes do at home.


Thank you Mr. Pear for your article on lab test it certainly worrying and starting a conversation on the quality and safety of lab tests.
 
An equally concerning issue is the accuracy of home testing devices regulated by FDA. Diabetes test systems are currently required to be accurate to +/- 20%. Level lower than much of the rest of the world. 
 
While FDA has suggested new, more accurate standards, many devices fail to preform to the existing regulatory standard for which they were approved.* FDA has acknowledged this problem. However there is no process to remove underperforming systems form the market. 

Worse Medicare bidding has disputed the market, driving price, not safety or quality. Research shared at the American Diabetes Association scientific sessions showed that the ‘savings’ Medicare achieved were more than offset by increased hospitalizations and mortality.# 
 
I look forward to reading more of the dialog on medical testing you have started and hopefully it will expand to help the 30 million Americans with diabetes stay safe. 
 
*“Blood Glucose Meter Accuracy Problems Acknowledged By FDA, Industry And Clinicians.” ‘Medical Devices Today’ Medicaldevicestoday.com, 27 May 2013. Web. 8 June 2013.

#“CMS Competitive Bidding Hurts Medicare Beneficiaries With Diabetes,” ‘EndocrinologyAdvisor’ 18 June 2015. http://www.endocrinologyadvisor.com/ada-75th-scientific-sessions-2015/competitive-bidding-diabetes-medicare/article/421388/

November 12, 2015

FitBit for Diabetes.



The American Diabetes Association® is one of three charities competing in Fitbit®’s FitForGood challenge. This means YOUR steps could help us win big to help Stop Diabetes®.

You can join in 3 easy steps!


1) Please visit www.fitbit.com/fitforgood. Sign up. Select the American Diabetes Association as your cause.

2) Put on your Fitbit Activity Tracker or use Mobile Track in the Fitbit app on your phone.

3) Start walking. You can walk anywhere, anytime—and every step you take between Nov. 9 and Nov. 20 will be in support of the Association.

In addition to logging your physical steps, you can earn an additional 1,000 steps per day by sharing from the campaign dashboard to social media. So, share away on Facebook and Twitter