Clinical effectiveness and cost-impact after 2 years of a ketogenic diet and virtual coaching intervention for patients with diabetes.

AIM: We previously evaluated the impacts at 5 months of a digitally delivered coaching intervention in which participants are instructed to adhere to a very low carbohydrate, ketogenic diet. With extended follow-up (24 months), we assessed the longer-term effects of this intervention on changes in clinical outcomes, health care utilization and costs associated with outpatient, inpatient and emergency department use in the Veterans Health Administration. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We employed a difference-in-differences model with a waiting list control group to estimate the 24-month change in glycated haemoglobin, body mass index, blood pressure, prescription medication use, health care utilization rates and associated costs. The analysis included 550 people with type 2 diabetes who were overweight or obese and enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration for health care. Data were obtained from electronic health records from 2018 to 2021. RESULTS: The virtual coaching and ketogenic diet intervention was associated with significant reductions in body mass index [-1.56 (SE 0.390)] and total monthly diabetes medication usage [-0.35 (SE 0.054)]. No statistically significant differences in glycated haemoglobin, blood pressure, outpatient visits, inpatient visits, or emergency department visits were observed. The intervention was associated with reductions in per-patient, per-month outpatient spending [-USD286.80 (SE 97.175)] and prescription drug costs (-USD105.40 (SE 30.332)]. CONCLUSIONS: A virtual coaching intervention with a ketogenic diet component offered modest effects on clinical and cost parameters in people with type 2 diabetes and with obesity or overweight. Health care systems should develop methods to assess participant progress and engagement over time if they adopt such interventions, to ensure continued patient engagement and goal achievement.

Effectiveness of a ketogenic diet and virtual coaching intervention for patients with diabetes: A difference-in-differences analysis.

AIM: To test the effectiveness of a ketogenic diet and virtual coaching intervention in controlling markers of diabetes care and healthcare utilization. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a difference-in-differences analysis with a waiting list control group-a quasi-experimental methodology-we estimated the 5-month change in HbA1c, body mass index, blood pressure, prescription medication use and costs, as well as healthcare utilization. The analysis included 590 patients with diabetes who were also overweight or obese, and who regularly utilize the Veterans Health Administration (VA) for healthcare. We used data from VA electronic health records from 2018 to 2020. RESULTS: The ketogenic diet and virtual coaching intervention was associated with significant reductions in HbA1c (-0.69 [95% CI -1.02, -0.36]), diabetes medication fills (-0.38, [-0.49, -0.26]), body mass index (-1.07, [-1.95, -0.19]), diastolic blood pressure levels (-1.43, [-2.72, -0.14]), outpatient visits (-0.36, [-0.70, -0.02]) and prescription drug costs (-34.54 [-48.56, -20.53]). We found no significant change in emergency department visits (-0.02 [-0.05, 0.01]) or inpatient admissions (-0.01 [-0.02, 0.01]). CONCLUSIONS: This real-world assessment of a virtual coaching and diet programme shows that such an intervention offers short-term benefits on markers of diabetes care and healthcare utilization in patients with diabetes.

Synopsis of the 2017 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs/U.S. Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guideline: Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

DESCRIPTION: In April 2017, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) approved a joint clinical practice guideline for the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. METHODS: The VA/DoD Evidence-Based Practice Work Group convened a joint VA/DoD guideline development effort that included a multidisciplinary panel of practicing clinician stakeholders and conformed to the Institute of Medicine's tenets for trustworthy clinical practice guidelines. The guideline panel developed key questions in collaboration with the ECRI Institute, which systematically searched and evaluated the literature through June 2016, developed an algorithm, and rated recommendations by using the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) system. RECOMMENDATIONS: This synopsis summarizes key features of the guideline in 7 areas: patient-centered care and shared decision making, glycemic biomarkers, hemoglobin A1c target ranges, individualized treatment plans, outpatient pharmacologic treatment, glucose targets for critically ill patients, and treatment of hospitalized patients.

A Quality Improvement Program to Reduce Potential Overtreatment of Diabetes Among Veterans at High Risk of Hypoglycemia.

Background.. Intensive glycemic control confers increased risk of hypoglycemia and little benefit among older individuals with diabetes. The aim of this quality improvement project was to reduce the number of patients treated to A1C levels that might confer greater risk than benefit (i.e., potential overtreatment) in the VA New England Healthcare System. Methods.. A provider report and clinical reminder were created to identify potentially overtreated patients and prompt clinicians to consider treatment de-intensification. Potentially overtreated patients were defined as those on insulin or a sulfonylurea whose most recent A1C was <7.0% and who were >74 years of age or diagnosed with dementia or cognitive impairment. The numbers of patients screened and whose treatment was de-intensified using the clinical reminder were counted from January to December 2014. The number of high-risk veterans at baseline was compared with that 6 and 18 months after implementation using t tests. Results.. A total of 2,830 patients were screened using the clinical reminder; 9.6% had their glycemic treatment de-intensified. Among the 261 patients reporting hypoglycemia, 37% had their treatment de-intensified. Higher percentages of patients had treatment de-intensified when reported symptoms were more severe. The monthly average in the high-risk cohort declined from baseline by 18% at 6 months and by 22% at 18 months (both P <0.005). Conclusions.. A clinical reminder helps clinicians identify and reduce the number of potentially overtreated patients. The large number of screened patients whose treatment was not de-intensified suggests that a clinical reminder should be combined with provider education, national guidelines, and performance measures aligned in the interest of reducing potential overtreatment.

Capitalizing on prescribing pattern variation to compare medications for type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Clinical trials often compare hypoglycemic medications on the basis of glycemic control but do not examine long-term outcomes (e.g., mortality). This study demonstrates an alternative approach to lengthening clinical trials to assess these long-term outcomes. OBJECTIVE: To use observational quasi-experimental methods using instrumental variables (IVs) to compare the effect of two hypoglycemic medications, sulfonylureas (SUs) and thiazolidinediones (TZDs), on long-term outcomes. METHODS: This study used administrative data from the Veterans Health Administration and Medicare from 2000 to 2010. The study population included US veterans dually enrolled in Medicare who received a prescription for metformin and then initiated SUs or TZDs. Patients could either continue on or discontinue metformin after the initiation of the second agent. Treatment was defined as starting either a SU or a TZD. Local variations in SU prescribing rates were used as instruments in IV models to control for selection bias. Survival models predicted all-cause mortality, ambulatory care sensitive condition hospitalizations, and stroke or heart attack (acute myocardial infarction). RESULTS: Starting on SUs compared to TZDs significantly increased the likelihood of experiencing mortality and ACSC hospitalization. The estimated hazard ratio for the effect of starting on SUs compared to TZDs was 1.50 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-2.09) for all-cause mortality, 1.68 (95% CI 1.31-2.15) for ambulatory care sensitive condition hospitalization, and 1.15 (95% CI 0.80-1.66) for acute myocardial infarction or stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest increased risk of major adverse events associated with SUs as a second-line agent. Quasi-experimental IV methods may be an important alternative to lengthening clinical trials to assess long-term outcomes.

Glycated Hemoglobin A1c Time in Range and Dementia in Older Adults With Diabetes.

Importance: Individuals with diabetes commonly experience Alzheimer disease and related dementias (ADRD). Factors such as hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and glycemic variability have been associated with increased risk of ADRD. Traditional glycemic measures, such as mean glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), may not identify the dynamic and complex pathophysiologic factors in the association between diabetes and ADRD. The HbA1c time in range (TIR) is a previously developed measure of glycemic control that expresses HbA1c stability over time within specific ranges. This measure may inform the current understanding of the association between glucose levels over time and ADRD incidence. Objective: To examine the association between HbA1c TIR and incidence of ADRD in older veterans with diabetes. Design, Setting, and Participants: The study sample for this cohort study was obtained from administrative and health care utilization data from the Veterans Health Administration and Medicare from January 1, 2004, to December 31, 2018. Veterans 65 years or older with diabetes were assessed. Participants were required to have at least 4 HbA1c tests during the 3-year baseline period, which could start between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2014. Data analysis was conducted between July and December 2023. Main Outcomes and Measures: Hemoglobin A1c TIR was calculated as the percentage of days during baseline in which HbA1c was in individualized target ranges based on clinical characteristics and life expectancy, with higher HbA1c TIR viewed as more favorable. The association between HbA1c TIR and ADRD incidence was estimated. Additional models considered ADRD incidence in participants who were above or below HbA1c target ranges most of the time. Results: The study included 374 021 veterans with diabetes (mean [SD] age, 73.2 [5.8] years; 369 059 [99%] male). During follow-up of up to 10 years, 41 424 (11%) developed ADRD. Adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression models showed that lower HbA1c TIR was associated with increased risk of incident ADRD (HbA1c TIR of 0 to <20% compared with ≥80%: hazard ratio, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.16-1.23). Furthermore, the direction of out-of-range HbA1c levels was associated with incident ADRD. Having greater time below range (≥60%, compared with ≥60% TIR) was associated with significantly increased risk (hazard ratio, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.19-1.27). Findings remained significant after excluding individuals with baseline use of medications associated with hypoglycemia risk (ie, insulin and sulfonylureas) or with hypoglycemia events. Conclusions and Relevance: In this study of older adults with diabetes, increased HbA1c stability within patient-specific target ranges was associated with a lower risk of ADRD. Lower HbA1c TIR may identify patients at increased risk of ADRD.

Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Synopsis of the Department of Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guideline.

The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the US Department of Defense (DoD) approved a joint clinical practice guideline for the management of type 2 diabetes. This was the product of a multidisciplinary guideline development committee composed of clinicians from both the VA and the DoD and was overseen by the VA/DoD Evidence Based Practice Work Group. The development process conformed to the standards for trustworthy guidelines as established by the National Academy of Medicine. The guideline development committee developed 12 key questions to guide an evidence synthesis. An independent third party identified relevant randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews that were published from January 2016 through April 2022. This evidence synthesis served as the basis for drafting recommendations. Twenty-six recommendations were generated and rated by the GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) system. Two algorithms were developed to guide clinical decision-making. This synopsis summarizes key aspects of the VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline for diabetes in 5 areas: prediabetes, screening for co-occurring conditions, diabetes self-management education and support, glycemic treatment goals, and pharmacotherapy. The guideline is designed to help clinicians and patients make informed treatment decisions to optimize health outcomes and quality of life and to align with patient-centered goals of care.

Is it time to reduce the length of postgraduate training for physician-scientists in internal medicine?

Physician-scientists play a crucial role in advancing medical knowledge and patient care, yet the long periods of time required to complete training may impede expansion of this workforce. We examined the relationship between postgraduate training and time to receipt of NIH or Veterans Affairs career development awards (CDAs) for physician-scientists in internal medicine. Data from NIH RePORTER were analyzed for internal medicine residency graduates who received specific CDAs (K08, K23, K99, or IK2) in 2022. Additionally, information on degrees and training duration was collected. Internal medicine residency graduates constituted 19% of K awardees and 28% of IK2 awardees. Of MD-PhD internal medicine-trained graduates who received a K award, 92% received a K08 award; of MD-only graduates who received a K award, a majority received a K23 award. The median time from medical school graduation to CDA was 9.6 years for K awardees and 10.2 years for IK2 awardees. The time from medical school graduation to K or IK2 award was shorter for US MD-PhD graduates than US MD-only graduates. We propose that the time from medical school graduation to receipt of CDAs must be shortened to accelerate training and retention of physician-scientists.

Association of hemoglobin A1c stability with mortality and diabetes complications in older adults with diabetes.

INTRODUCTION: Hemoglobin A1c (A1c) treatment goals in older adults should be individualized to balance risks and benefits. It is unclear if A1c stability over time within unique target ranges also affects adverse outcomes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational cohort study from 2004 to 2016 of veterans with diabetes and at least four A1c tests during a 3-year baseline. We generated four distinct categories based on the percentage of time that baseline A1c levels were within patient-specific target ranges: ≥60% time in range (TIR), ≥60% time below range (TBR), ≥60% time above range (TAR), and a mixed group with all times <60%. We assessed associations of these categories with mortality, macrovascular, and microvascular complications. RESULTS: We studied 397 634 patients (mean age 76.9 years, SD 5.7) with an average of 5.5 years of follow-up. In comparison to ≥60% A1c TIR, mortality was increased with ≥60% TBR, ≥60% TAR, and the mixed group, with HRs of 1.12 (95% CI 1.11 to 1.14), 1.10 (95% CI 1.08 to 1.12), and 1.06 (95% CI 1.04 to 1.07), respectively. Macrovascular complications were increased with ≥60% TBR and ≥60% TAR, with estimates of 1.04 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.06) and 1.06 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.09). Microvascular complications were lower with ≥60% TBR (HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.95 to 1.00) and higher with ≥60% TAR (HR 1.11, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.14). Results were similar with higher TIR thresholds, shorter follow-up, and competing risk of mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In older adults with diabetes, mortality and macrovascular complications are associated with increased time above and below individualized A1c target ranges. Higher A1c TIR may identify patients with lower risk of adverse outcomes.

The National Clinical Care Commission Report to Congress: Summary and Next Steps.

The U.S. is experiencing an epidemic of type 2 diabetes. Socioeconomically disadvantaged and certain racial and ethnic groups experience a disproportionate burden from diabetes and are subject to disparities in treatment and outcomes. The National Clinical Care Commission (NCCC) was charged with making recommendations to leverage federal policies and programs to more effectively prevent and control diabetes and its complications. The NCCC determined that diabetes cannot be addressed simply as a medical problem but must also be addressed as a societal problem requiring social, clinical, and public health policy solutions. As a result, the NCCC's recommendations address policies and programs of both non-health-related and health-related federal agencies. The NCCC report, submitted to the U.S. Congress on 6 January 2022, makes 39 specific recommendations, including three foundational recommendations that non-health-related and health-related federal agencies coordinate their activities to better address diabetes, that all federal agencies and departments ensure that health equity is a guiding principle for their policies and programs that impact diabetes, and that all Americans have access to comprehensive and affordable health care. Specific recommendations are also made to improve general population-wide policies and programs that impact diabetes risk and control, to increase awareness and prevention efforts among those at high risk for type 2 diabetes, and to remove barriers to access to effective treatments for diabetes and its complications. Finally, the NCCC recommends that an Office of National Diabetes Policy be established to coordinate the activities of health-related and non-health-related federal agencies to address diabetes prevention and treatment. The NCCC urges Congress and the Secretary of Health and Human Services to implement these recommendations to protect the health and well-being of the more than 130 million Americans at risk for and living with diabetes.

The National Clinical Care Commission Report to Congress: Leveraging Federal Policies and Programs to Improve Diabetes Treatment and Reduce Complications.

The Treatment and Complications subcommittee of the National Clinical Care Commission focused on factors likely to improve the delivery of high-quality care to all people with diabetes. The gap between available resources and the needs of people living with diabetes adversely impacts both treatment and outcomes. The Commission's recommendations are designed to bridge this gap. At the patient level, the Commission recommends reducing barriers and streamlining administrative processes to improve access to diabetes self-management training, diabetes devices, virtual care, and insulin. At the practice level, we recommend enhancing programs that support team-based care and developing capacity to support technology-enabled mentoring interventions. At the health system level, we recommend that the Department of Health and Human Services routinely assess the needs of the health care workforce and ensure funding of training programs directed to meet those needs. At the health policy level, we recommend establishing a process to identify and ensure pre-deductible insurance coverage for high-value diabetes treatments and services and developing a quality measure that reduces risk of hypoglycemia and enhances patient safety. We also identified several areas that need additional research, such as studying the barriers to uptake of diabetes self-management education and support, exploring methods to implement team-based care, and evaluating the importance of digital connectivity as a social determinant of health. The Commission strongly encourages Congress, the Department of Health and Human Services, and other federal departments and agencies to take swift action to implement these recommendations to improve health outcomes and quality of life among people living with diabetes.

The National Clinical Care Commission Report to Congress: Background, Methods, and Foundational Recommendations.

Since the first Federal Commission on Diabetes issued its report in 1975, the diabetes epidemic in the U.S. has accelerated, and efforts to translate advances in diabetes treatment into routine clinical practice have stalled. In 2021, the National Clinical Care Commission (NCCC) delivered a report to Congress that provided recommendations to leverage federal policies and programs to more effectively prevent and treat diabetes and its complications. In the five articles in this series, we present the NCCC's evidence-based recommendations to 1) reduce diabetes-related risks, prevent type 2 diabetes, and avert diabetes complications through changes in federal policies and programs affecting the general population; 2) prevent type 2 diabetes in at-risk individuals through targeted lifestyle and medication interventions; and 3) improve the treatment of diabetes and its complications to improve the health outcomes of people with diabetes. In this first article, we review the successes and limitations of previous federal efforts to combat diabetes. We then describe the establishment of and charge to the NCCC. We discuss the development of a hybrid conceptual model that guided the NCCC's novel all-of-government approach to address diabetes as both a societal and medical problem. We then review the procedures used by the NCCC to gather information from federal agencies, stakeholders, key informants, and the public and to conduct literature reviews. Finally, we review the NCCC's three foundational recommendations: 1) improve the coordination of non-health-related and health-related federal agencies to address the social and environmental conditions that are accelerating the diabetes epidemic; 2) ensure that all Americans at risk for and with diabetes have health insurance and access to health care; and 3) ensure that all federal policies and programs promote health equity in diabetes.

Effects of the DASH diet and losartan on serum urate among adults with hypertension: Results of a randomized trial.

Serum urate is a risk factor for hypertension and gout. The DASH diet and losartan independently lower blood pressure (BP); however, their effects on serum urate are understudied. We performed a post-hoc analysis of the DASH-losartan trial, which randomized participants with hypertension in parallel fashion to the DASH diet or a standard American diet (control) and in crossover fashion to 4-week losartan or placebo. Serum urate was measured at baseline and after each 4-week period. Diets were designed to maintain weight constant. We examined the effects of DASH (vs control) and/or losartan (vs placebo) on serum urate, overall and among those with baseline serum urate ≥6 mg/dL, using generalized estimating equations. Of 55 participants (mean age 52 years, 58% women, 64% Black), mean (±SD) baseline ambulatory SBP/DBP was 146±12/91±9 and mean (±SD) serum urate was 5.2±1.2 mg/dL. The DASH diet did not significantly reduce urate levels overall (mean difference -0.05 mg/dL; 95%CI: -0.39, 0.28), but did decrease levels among participants with baseline hyperuricemia (-0.33 mg/dL; 95%CI: -0.87, 0.21; P-interaction=0.007 across hyperuricemia groups). Losartan significantly decreased serum urate (-0.23 mg/dL; 95%CI: -0.40, -0.05) with greater effects on serum urate among adults <60 years old versus adults ≥60 years old (-0.33 mg/dL vs 0.16 mg/dL, P interaction = 0.003). In summary, the DASH diet significantly decreased serum urate among participants with higher urate at baseline, while losartan significantly reduced serum urate, especially among younger adults. Future research should examine the effects of these interventions in patients with hyperuricemia or gout.

Eliminating Algorithmic Racial Bias in Clinical Decision Support Algorithms: Use Cases from the Veterans Health Administration.

The Veterans Health Administration uses equity- and evidence-based principles to examine, correct, and eliminate use of potentially biased clinical equations and predictive models. We discuss the processes, successes, challenges, and next steps in four examples. We detail elimination of the race modifier for estimated kidney function and discuss steps to achieve more equitable pulmonary function testing measurement. We detail the use of equity lenses in two predictive clinical modeling tools: Stratification Tool for Opioid Risk Mitigation (STORM) and Care Assessment Need (CAN) predictive models. We conclude with consideration of ways to advance racial health equity in clinical decision support algorithms.

The National Clinical Care Commission Report to Congress: Recommendations to Better Leverage Federal Policies and Programs to Prevent and Control Diabetes.

The National Clinical Care Commission (NCCC) was established by Congress to make recommendations to leverage federal policies and programs to more effectively prevent and treat diabetes and its complications. The NCCC developed a guiding framework that incorporated elements of the Socioecological and Chronic Care Models. It surveyed federal agencies and conducted follow-up meetings with representatives from 10 health-related and 11 non-health-related federal agencies. It held 12 public meetings, solicited public comments, met with numerous interested parties and key informants, and performed comprehensive literature reviews. The final report, transmitted to Congress in January 2022, contained 39 specific recommendations, including 3 foundational recommendations that addressed the necessity of an all-of-government approach to diabetes, health equity, and access to health care. At the general population level, the NCCC recommended that the federal government adopt a health-in-all-policies approach so that the activities of non-health-related federal agencies that address agriculture, food, housing, transportation, commerce, and the environment be coordinated with those of health-related federal agencies to affirmatively address the social and environmental conditions that contribute to diabetes and its complications. For individuals at risk for type 2 diabetes, including those with prediabetes, the NCCC recommended that federal policies and programs be strengthened to increase awareness of prediabetes and the availability of, referral to, and insurance coverage for intensive lifestyle interventions for diabetes prevention and that data be assembled to seek approval of metformin for diabetes prevention. For people with diabetes and its complications, the NCCC recommended that barriers to proven effective treatments for diabetes and its complications be removed, the size and competence of the workforce to treat diabetes and its complications be increased, and new payment models be implemented to support access to lifesaving medications and proven effective treatments for diabetes and its complications. The NCCC also outlined an ambitious research agenda. The NCCC strongly encourages the public to support these recommendations and Congress to take swift action.

The Growing Role of Technology in the Care of Older Adults With Diabetes.

The integration of technologies such as continuous glucose monitors, insulin pumps, and smart pens into diabetes management has the potential to support the transformation of health care services that provide a higher quality of diabetes care, lower costs and administrative burdens, and greater empowerment for people with diabetes and their caregivers. Among people with diabetes, older adults are a distinct subpopulation in terms of their clinical heterogeneity, care priorities, and technology integration. The scientific evidence and clinical experience with these technologies among older adults are growing but are still modest. In this review, we describe the current knowledge regarding the impact of technology in older adults with diabetes, identify major barriers to the use of existing and emerging technologies, describe areas of care that could be optimized by technology, and identify areas for future research to fulfill the potential promise of evidence-based technology integrated into care for this important population.

Association of hemoglobin A1c time in range with risk for diabetes complications.

INTRODUCTION: We assessed the association between hemoglobin A1c time in range (A1c TIR), based on unique patient-level A1c target ranges, with risks of developing microvascular and macrovascular complications in older adults with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We used a retrospective observational study design and identified patients with diabetes from the Department of Veterans Affairs (n=397 634). Patients were 65 years and older and enrolled in Medicare during the period 2004-2016. Patients were assigned to individualized A1c target ranges based on estimated life expectancy and the presence or absence of diabetes complications. We computed A1c TIR for patients with at least four A1c tests during a 3-year baseline period. The association between A1c TIR and time to incident microvascular and macrovascular complications was studied in models that included A1c mean and A1c SD. RESULTS: We identified 74 016 patients to assess for incident microvascular complications and 89 625 patients to assess for macrovascular complications during an average follow-up of 5.5 years. Cox proportional hazards models showed lower A1c TIR was associated with higher risk of microvascular (A1c TIR 0% to <20%; HR=1.04; 95%) and macrovascular complications (A1c TIR 0% to <20%; HR=1.07; 95%). A1c mean was associated with increased risk of microvascular and macrovascular complications but A1c SD was not. The association of A1c TIR with incidence and progression of individual diabetes complications within the microvascular and macrovascular composites showed similar trends. CONCLUSIONS: Maintaining stability of A1c levels in unique target ranges was associated with lower likelihood of developing microvascular and macrovascular complications in older adults with diabetes.

A novel dataset of predictors of mortality for older Veterans living with type II diabetes.

The dataset summarized in this article includes a nationwide prevalence sample of U.S. military Veterans who were aged 65 years or older, dually enrolled in the Veterans Health Administration and traditional Medicare and had a previous diagnosis of diabetes (diabetes mellitus) as of December 2005 (N = 275,190) [1]. Our data were originally used to develop and validate prognostic indices of 5- and 10-year mortality among older Veterans with diabetes. We include various potential predictors including demographics (e.g., sex, age, marital status, and VA priority group), healthcare utilization (e.g., # of outpatient visits, # days of inpatient stays), medication history, and major comorbidities. This novel dataset provides researchers with an opportunity to study the associations between a large variety of individual-level risk factors and longevity for patients living with diabetes.