Year: 2012
Type: book-chapter
Abstract: A growing body of Australian and international literature has reported the benefits and improved health outcomes resulting from various trials of pharmaceutical care, selfmanagement support and other cognitive services in chronic conditions such as diabetes and obesity.This review will focus on existing medications, the reasons why they might not work for some individuals and the potential for new ways to treat both diseases.It will also review novel ways to manage the diseases, including using community pharmacy as a site for intervention, once effective therapies are available.The burden of diabetes and obesity for individuals and for the community is high.The complications of both diseases are related and of the order that adequate treatment and control are vital to limit an epidemic of severe morbidity and mortality.Medications and how they are used play a key role in the management of these chronic conditions.Current antidiabetic therapies enhance insulin secretion by pancreatic beta-cells, reducing insulin resistance, modulating glucose metabolism or in type 1 diabetes or refractory type 2 diabetes, replacing insulin.Although several subclasses of non-insulin agents have been in use for some time, detailed information on their modes of action, use in various combinations and factors that prevent their optimal use are only recently emerging and require further understanding.Pharmacotherapy is also being increasingly used as a component of preventive programs targeting insulin resistance and obesity before onset of diabetes ('prediabetes'), especially in children and adolescents.Pharmacists contribute significantly to quality use of medicines when they provide information, advice and recommendations to patients and providers to optimise therapeutic outcomes.In recent years, pharmacists have also sought to develop an expanded role in contributing to the management of chronic diseases to meet the needs of this growing patient population.
Language: English
Subfield: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W321981118