The number of Americans with diabetes has tripled in the past 30 years. The stage is set for diabetes educators to play a leading role in diabetes care for the next century. But while opportunity is knocking, we face significant challenges. Our first challenge is to promote the message of prevention. Diabetes is vastly underdiagnosed.
Intervention comes too late, with the greatest expenditures for end-stage complications.
Diabetes clearly meets the first two criteria. But public fear of diabetes remains low. NDEP will spread the word that diabetes is serious, common, costly, and controllable. We must work to promote NDEP's message, participate in widespread screenings, and achieve earlier diagnosis. Our second challenge is to increase access to comprehensive diabetes care.