Keynote

In her keynote address Anne Peters, MD, CDE, Director, Clinical Diabetes Program, University of Southern California, opened the meeting by defining what patient-centered care is. “Providing care that is respectful of and responsive to individual patient preferences, needs, values, and ensuring that patients are involved in all clinical decisions,” said Dr. Peters. She emphasized the importance of looking to the needs of the individual patient and make decisions.

Dr. Peters also discussed the new American Diabetes Associated/European Association for the Study of Diabetes positions statement on the management of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes. The new position statement was needed due to the rate of increase for new treatments Dr. Peters noted. The position statement takes a patient-centered approach by, “gauging the patient’s preferred level of involvement, shared decision making — the final decisions re: lifestyle choices ultimately lies with the patient, explore, where possible, therapeutic choice, and utilize decision aids.”