How diabetes specialists treat their own diabetes: Findings from a study of the AADE and ADA membership

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to determine how diabetes specialists , who themselves have diabetes, manage their own care. METHODS An independent research organization fared anonymous, 1-page survey s to all professional members of the American Association of Diabetes Educa tors (AADE) and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) who had valid fax n umbers. Only those individuals with diabetes were asked to fill out and ret urn the survey. RESULTS Of the 12 525 surveys that were distributed 802 (6.4%) were returne d The prevalence of type 1 diabetes in this sample was estimated to be 13 t imes higher than in the general US population, whereas the prevalence of ty pe 2 diabetes was 42% to 54% lower. Of the respondents with type 1 diabetes , most (96%) practiced intensive treatment regimens, and more than half use d an insulin infusion pump. CONCLUSIONS Diabetes specialists treat their own diabetes according to curr ent standards of medical care, with insulin pumps being the preferred metho d of insulin therapy for type 1 diabetes in this sample. Knowing that exper ts almost universally practice intensive treatment regimens may be a powerf ul motivator for patients and sends a strong message to primary care provid ers and payers regarding the need for treating diabetes according to curren t standards of care.