Medicare has stopped paying hospitals for blood conditions caused by poor inpatient glycemic control. Health-system pharmacists can help prevent these conditions and reduce uncompensated expenses by insisting on proper protocols.

The complications of obesity affect nearly every organ system. Treatment approaches include pharmacotherapy, modification of behavior and lifestyle, and surgery. Analysis of the root cause for each patient is essential.

Previous medication therapies for diabetes were limited to insulin, sulfonylureas, and metformin. Promising new approaches include DPP-IV inhibitors, GLP-1 analogues, and SGLT-2 inhibitors.

Patient education and self-management are key to successful diabetes care. Pharmacies around the country are initiating classes and programs and offering special supplies and products geared to people with diabetes.

In addition to syringes and insulin vials, products already on the market or in the works include insulin pens, pumps, patches, sprays, and inhaled and oral insulin.

Sitagliptin is an incretin mimetic that targets mainly postprandial glucose in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It provides a modest reduction in HbA1c and may be an option for certain patients who are not achieving established glycemic controls.

A new report from Decision Resources found that Florida leads the pack with most untreated Type 2 diabetics who also have drug coverage.

Physicians' negative experience with Exubera, Pfizer/Nektar's inhaled insulin, may slow adoption of new therapies.

A fixed-dose combination pill from Novo Nordisk and Sciele Pharma will give patients with diabetes a new option.