To implement the St. Vincent Declaration Action Programme, initiatives have
been started in the quality development of diabetes care across Europe. Th
e main elements of the quality development cycle implemented in our hospita
l were realized by the use of the software package 'CamitPro' and participa
tion in 'the DiabCare Q-net NL' network. From 1997 to 1999, 955, 1468, and
1624 patients with diabetes mellitus type 2 were integrated in the DiabCare
Q-net NL network by using 'CamitPro' software, respectively. These patient
s showed substantial improvement in all of the clinical measures monitored.
In addition, there was a drop in HbA(1c) level. From 1997 to 1999, an HbA(
1c) interval of 5.1%-8.3% (mean up to mean +4SD) was recorded for 66%, 76%
and 81% of the patients, respectively. An extension of the use of the softw
are to a pan-European level should markedly improve diabetes care throughou
t the community.