Whither diabetes - abstract

ABSTRACT

It has been said that more knowledge about diabetes mellitus has been uncovered in the last ten years than in the preceding fifty. The search for new knowledge through basic and applied research must continue so that one day we can cure and prevent diabetes mellitus. Until then we have many challenges before us. These include Does glycaemic control in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus also lead to the primary and secondary prevention of retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy? What is the role of dyslipidaemia in the pathogenesis of coronary heart disease, the major cause of death in humans affected by diabetes mellitus? How do we screen people with diabetes mellitus for retinopathy so that those with sight-threatening retinopathy can be appropriately treated to preserve their vision? How do we implement clinical practice guidelines so that better quality care can be delivered to people affected by diabetes mellitus? How do we motivate people with diabetes mellitus so that they can practise quality "self-care"? Undoubtedly, there are many other important issues regarding the care to diabetes today. These five will be discussed in the presentation(AU)