SA JOURNAL OF DIABETES & VASCULAR DISEASE
EDITORIAL
VOLUME 10 NUMBER 4 • NOVEMBER 2013
119
From policy implementation issues to diabetes
in the digital age
T
his issue of the Journal has several important themes,
including excellence in diabetes – missed opportunities
for optimal care, the digital age and diabetes, diabetes and
audiology, a review of diabetic macular oedema, a discussion on
non-nutritive sweeteners, the CDE Watch, notes on the Novo
Nordisk Update Symposium, and more.
Dr N Naidoo’s article on excellence in diabetes revolves around
poor implementation of diabetes policies, and ways of tackling this.
Also discussed are the central role of education and the diabetes
nurse educator, the involvement of the patient in making key
decisions about his/her diabetes care, actively screening for and
preventing complications, the Stott model of consultation, and a
diabetes record and checklist. This is a pivotal article and if we are to
make any progress in diabetes care, we have to heed this guidance.
Wake and Cunningham point out the impact of the growing use
of mobile apps and sharing of information on the digital highway.
This will benefit patients and their healthcare professionals and
improve their communication and care. They discuss potential
problems, such as loss of confidentiality, and different levels of care
for those with access to devices as opposed to those who don’t/
can’t access mobile devices.
Prof Khoza-Shangase and her colleagues discuss the effect of
microvascular damage in type 1 diabetes on cochlea–vestibular
function, and its potential to reduce quality of life for diabetics.
Although it is a small study and needs to be studied in a larger
sample, it nevertheless alerts clinicians to the problem and the need
to screen for this condition.
Dr Kruse reviews therapy for macular oedema. He covers the
role and limitations of photocoagulation, and anti-inflammatory,
anti-angiogenesis and other agents, and ends with a guide to the
management of macular oedema.
Ruwaida Amod explains what non-nutritive sweeteners are and
discusses good and bad aspects of these sweeteners. However, this
interesting discussion will only be furthered by additional studies.
The CDE Watch covers a range of interesting topics from
Dr Amod’s ‘Insulin: friend or foe’, and the looming nephropathy
disaster, to a lively discussion on bariatric surgery. The Novo
Nordisk Update Symposium report includes notes on incretins and
hypoglycaemia
I thank the local contributors, Prof K Khoza-Shangase, Dr N
Naidoo, Dr C-H Kruse and Ms R Amod. We encourage local and
continental reviews, case studies and trials in diabetes. I also thank
the journal staff for their hard work.
Correspondence to: Dr FA Mahomed
Department of Internal Medicine, Grey’s Hospital,
Pietermaritzburg
Tel: +27 (0) 33 897-3289
Fax: 086 6281 374
e-mail:
S Afr J Diabetes Vasc Dis
2013;
10
: 119
FA MAHOMED
Thank you
The Director of Clinics Cardive Publishing,
Prof Paul Brink and the editorial team thank our
authors, reviewers and all others who contributed to
our journal during 2013. A special word of thanks to our
corresponding editors, Dr Landi Lombard
and Dr Faz Mahomed for their hard work
and dedication to the journal.
May peace, joy, hope and happiness be
yours during this holiday season and
throughout the new year.
