2009 Objectives

POSITION: Since our first Annual Symposium in 1972, we have been advocating that hyperglycemia is the major risk factor for the development of microvascular, macrovascular, and neurological complications. We stressed the importance of blood sugar control and cardiovascular risk factor control that was achievable with our resources. The escalating high cost of direct and indirect diabetes management of diabetic complications is because of the failure to make the diagnosis early and control blood sugars and cardiovascular risk factors. The therapeutic approach we recommend includes normalization of blood sugar, lipids, blood pressure, body weight, cessation of cigarette smoking and curtailment of alcohol.
We have the personnel, tools and resources to achieve our goal. This can be accomplished through continuous patient and physician education, proper diabetic meal plan, blood sugar monitoring, increased physical activity and if needed oral hypoglycemic agents, metformin, thiazolidinedione and/or insulin or GLP-1 receptor agonists or DPP-4 Inhibitors. The blood sugar treatment goal for all diabetics is a Hemoglobin A1C of 6% or less plasma sugar.

In 2008, we find a diabetes epidemic - $24,000,000 at a total direct and indirect cost of $174 billion.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this continuing education activity is to present current management and clinical research results by experts in the field of diabetes, endocrine disease, and cardiovascular disease.

OBJECTIVES: The intended result of this activity is to provide increased knowledge of diabetes, endocrinology and vascular disease. At the conclusion of the program, participants will be able to:

• Discuss current and newer treatment goals for hypertension.
• Review the epidemiology and risk factors for type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes.
• Define the metabolic syndrome including the benefits and risks of
  current therapy.
• Describe the different types of bariatric surgery and medical benefits of each.
• Explain the treatment of congestive heart failure in an outpatient
  setting.
• Identify and aggressively treat diabetic dyslipidemia.
• Describe the risk factors and treatment of the diabetic foot to prevent amputations.
• Discuss current diabetes education guidelines and risk factors in minority populations.
• Identify and recommend treatment therapies for diabetic retinopathy.
• Outline the current treatment for gestational, Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in pregnancy.
• Discuss current and future treatment strategies for diabetes control.
• Describe the relationship between lowering A1C and reducing microvascular    complications.
• Identify cardiovascular risk factors and recommended treatments.
• List the current therapies available for treating obesity and future directions for obesity management.
• Discuss the immunological process that results in Beta Cell death in T1DM.
• Discuss the different classifications of neuropathy and pathogenesis based treatment choices.