Abstract
Quality of care estimated by frequency of examination of metabolic states and diabetic complications was studied in diabetic subjects at an electronics company. Subjects were 498 among 14, 073 enployees over 40 years old, judged as “requiring medical treatment for diabetes” in 1997 health check-ups. A survey in 1999 studied medical information in 1998 (response: 88%). Some 347 patients (81%) answered they were under regular medical care and 136 patients received opthalmologic examinations in the clinic during 1998. A review of health insurance claims for medical care showed 117 patients had funduscopic examinations and 74 had examinations for microalbuminuria. Of those with insulin treatment, 60% received funduscopic exami nations, but only 30% had microalbuminuria examinations. Quality of care evaluated by the frequency of examinations of metabolic states and diabetic complications was significantly better but far from ideal even in clinics with clinical diabetes specialists registered with the Japan Diabetes Society. Guidelines for the treatment of diabetes published in 1999 and revised in 2000 by the Japan Diabetes Society should be widely disseminated for better quality of care in diabetic patients.
