We often hear that the US needs a new approach to treating diabetes if the so-called diabetes epidemic is to be brought under control. Specifically, many advocate reorienting medical care to focus on prevention, not just treatment. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is currently running a story that highlights one physician's plan for how this might work.

Dr. Swarna Varma (pictured) believes better preventive care would save the US $18 billion annually. Her solution? Pay doctors for time spent training their patients the art of diabetes self-management. The current system, she argues, rewards doctors solely for treating those who fail to keep strict control of their condition. "We get reimbursed for heart attacks, vision problems, strokes, prosthetics, ulcers and dialysis," says Dr. Varma. "Do we get reimbursed to get their ABCs under control? No."

Dr. Varma believes her own practice illustrates how well such a system would work. She says that patients in her practice are three times more likely than the national average to have their diabetes under control. She spends lots of time counseling patients on what they need to do for effective self-management to work, and makes regular follow-up phone calls. She also advocates a team approach, involving the doctor and other staff, as well as the patient's family. "I'm hoping that someday health companies and employers will reimburse us for doing the right thing," says Dr. Varma. "I want to make this doable."

The website Diabetes Self-Management is running a feature about a diabetes mentoring program that has just been launched. The idea behind the initiative is simple: people do better at managing their diabetes when they have the support of other diabetics who can give moral support and helpful tips.

The program is called A1c Champions. Sponsored by insulin manufacturer Sanofi-Aventis, A1c Champions signs up people with diabetes and arranges for them to give presentations to diabetes support groups. The program supplies everything you need for the presentations, including materials and information. It also provides training.

If you're interested, first find out if you qualify. You must have Type 2 diabetes and use insulin. You must also have an HbA1c level of less than seven percent. To apply, call 1-866-741-7047.

The magazine Diabetes Self-Management is now available by phone for those with a visual impairment. Articles from the magazine are made into electronic voice recordings through a hotline called NFB-NEWSLINE, which is a service provided by the National Federation of the Blind. To subscribe, call the National Federation of the Blind at (866) 504-7300. Subscription is free to anyone who is unable to read printed materials due to a disability.

Other magazines available by phone as part of this service are AARP Magazine, The Economist and The New Yorker. A number of national and local newspapers can also be accessed this way. All magazines and newspapers are available to subscribers twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.