Table 1. Physician Specialty and Glycemic Control: Summary Findings (Text Version)

Study: Hayward RA, Manning WG, Kaplan SH, et al. Starting insulin therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes. JAMA 1997; 278(20):1663-9.
Subjects: 8,868 type 2 diabetics
Physician specialty: Generalist physicians
Glycemic levels: 2 years after initiation of insulin: Over 60 percent of patients were >8 percent.

Study: Bernard AM, Anderson L, Cook CB, et al. What do internal medicine residents need to enhance their diabetes care? Diabetes Care 1999; 22(5):661-6.
Subjects: 140 diabetics (31 type 1, 109 type 2)
Physician specialty: Internal medicine residents
Glycemic levels: After 12 months: 50 percent of patients were >8 percent.

Study: Greenfield S, Rogers W, Mangotich M, et al. Outcomes of patients with hypertension and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus treated by different systems and specialties. Results from the Medical Outcomes Study. JAMA 1995; 274(18):1436-44
Subjects: 170 type 2 diabetics
Glycemic levels by physician specialty: After 2 years, all patients averaged:

• General internists .............. 9.7 percent.
• Family physicians .............. 9.3 percent.
• Endocrinologists ................ 9.3 percent.

Note: According to the American Diabetes Association, an HbA_1c value of 4-6 percent is considered normal. This value is an approximation and may vary depending upon expert opinion.

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