Abstract Diabetes mellitus is a common metabolic disorder characterized by high blood glucose levels resulting from an insulin deficiency (type 1 diabetes mellitus) or a combination of insulin deficiency and insulin resistance (type 2 diabetes mellitus). The chronic hyperglycemia associated with diabetes mellitus can cause damage to the eyes, kidneys, heart and peripheral circulation, resulting in substantial morbidity, premature mortality and considerable healthcare costs. In both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, quality of glycemic control has been shown to be a major factor in the prevention of microvascular complications, and tight blood glucose control is the primary goal for all patients with diabetes mellitus. In patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, multiple daily injections of exogenous insulin and frequent monitoring of blood glucose levels are required to achieve tight glycemic control. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus may achieve initial glycemic control with diet and lifestyle interventions alone; however, a large percentage of patients will require pharmacological therapy, first with an oral antidiabetic agent and, ultimately, with insulin. Premixed insulin formulations, consisting of fixed ratios of short- and intermediate-acting insulins, are a convenient and effective treatment option which account for ≈40% of insulin use worldwide. Until recently, the only premixed formulations available contained varying proportions of human regular insulin and human isophane insulin suspension (NPH). However, new premixed formulations containing insulin lispro (a rapid-acting insulin analog) and insulin lispro neutral protamine suspension (NPL) [an intermediate-acting insulin analog] are now available. Insulin lispro mix75/25 (Humalog® Mix75/25™) is a premixed formulation containing 25% insulin lispro and 75% NPL which has been investigated for use in patients with type 1 and with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Administered twice daily immediately before breakfast and dinner, insulin lispro mix75/25 provides better control of postprandial blood glucose, provides similar overall glycemic control, appears to be preferred by patients and may reduce nocturnal hypoglycemia compared with a similar premixed formulation containing 30% human regular insulin and 70% NPH (human insulin 70/30; Humulin® 70/30, Novolin® 70/30). Insulin lispro mix75/25 has a rapid onset of action, allowing for administration immediately before a meal, whereas patients need to administer human insulin 70/30 30 to 60 minutes prior to meals. Insulin lispro mix75/25 also improves glycemic control in patients whose type 2 diabetes mellitus is not well controlled by oral agents. Conclusion Insulin lispro mix75/25 is suitable for patients wishing to use premixed insulin formulations and may offer several benefits over human insulin 70/30.
Summary Disease management strategies, which seek to integrate care around the needs of various stakeholders — providers, drug and device makers, physicians, patients, managed care organisations and employers — have the potential to markedly change how healthcare services are delivered. To support this transition, information technologies are needed to facilitate the collection, integration, analysis, real-time presentation and secure storage of clinical data. This article reviews the needs of the various stakeholders in disease management and links these needs to healthcare delivery information technologies, both currently existing and planned. It summarises the status of the core information technologies that support healthcare delivery and disease management. The article focuses on the principles of evaluating the costs and benefits of information technology with respect to the business plan for the clinical organisation and of successfully implementing information technology in the healthcare setting.
Pharmacists are in an ideal position to assess, monitor and treat adherence-related problems that can adversely affect patients’ health outcomes. To accomplish these goals, pharmacists must accept the responsibilities and challenges of a primary care provider. They also must assume an interdisciplinary role in collaborative drug therapy management. Strategies to monitor and improve adherence are key components of pharmaceutical care plans, especially for patients with chronic diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus and atherosclerotic heart disease. This article gives an overview of guidelines, recommendations, current practices and related issues in the management of patients with diabetes mellitus. It also reviews the behavioral and social factors that influence adherence to therapeutic and lifestyle regimens, and highlights special needs in selected high-risk populations. Finally, best practice strategies that could serve as appropriate models for pharmaceutical care services are discussed. The overall goal is to enhance pharmacists’ professional abilities to coordinate pharmaceutical care services targeted for major modifiable behavioral and biological risk factors. Pharmacists can overcome their apprehension about undertaking a primary care role in diabetes management through adequate preparation (including training and certification). The primary care functions that have been evaluated to date in the care of patients with diabetes mellitus by pharmacists show successful patient outcomes in terms of cost, quality of life and reduction of complications.
Heart failure (HF) is a complex syndrome characterized by the inability of the heart to maintain a normal cardiac output without elevated intracardiac filling pressures, resulting in signs of pulmonary and peripheral edema and symptoms of dyspnea and fatigue. Central to the management of HF is a multifaceted pharmacological intervention to abate the harmful counter-regulatory effects of neurohormonal activation and avid salt and water retention. Whereas up to 40 years ago HF was managed with diuretics and leaf of digitalis, the cornerstones of therapy for HF patients with systolic dysfunction now include ACE inhibitors or angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonists (angiotensin receptor blockers), β-adrenoceptor antagonists (β-blockers), and aldosterone antagonists, which have significantly improved survival. However, with the increasing number of beneficial therapies, there are challenges to implementing all of them. Specific cardiomyopathies also merit specific considerations with respect to treatment, and — unfortunately — there is no therapy for HF with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction that has been shown to improve survival. Although mortality has improved in HF, the biggest challenge to treatment lies in addressing the morbidity of this disease, which is now the most common reason for hospital admission in our aged population. As such, there are many therapies that may serve to improve the quality of life of HF patients. Future HF treatment regimens may include direct cellular therapy via hormone and cytokine signaling or cardiac regeneration through growth factors or cell therapy.
Case management is an evolving healthcare process and role. Confusion about the definition and scope of case management has arisen because of the diversity of ways the role has been implemented and the changing healthcare landscape within which case managers function. From its early heritage in coordination of care and advocacy for the vulnerable, case management developed to meet the demands of a growing and changing health system. The focus on the individual has expanded to encompass management of the patient and the system of care. The advent of managed care has transformed the role of the case manager toward population- and outcome-based care. The next era will focus on longitudinal, comprehensive and integrated Wellness, disease and illness management.
