Major Medical Association Announces Gathering of Key Diabetes Stakeholders to Tackle Challenges of Safety, Accuracy of Life-Saving Diabetes Patient Tools
05-27-2014

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – (May 27, 2014) – The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE)/American College of Endocrinology (ACE) today announced plans to convene a national consensus conference September 29  in Washington, D.C. to address issues tied to quality, safety and access to glucose monitoring devices and related supplies that patients use to ensure that their disease is under control.

The blood glucose monitoring initiative will be uniquely structured to gather input from all major stakeholders involved in the diabetes arena and will examine critical factors such as regulatory challenges, post-FDA-approval monitoring of safety and accuracy of glucose strips, glucose sensors and devices, patient access and economic/reimbursement issues. 

The consensus conference dovetails with AACE/ACE’s sponsorship of the National Diabetes Clinical Care Commission Act (H.R. 1074/S. 539), legislation which seeks to establish a commission comprised of diabetes experts (endocrinologists and other specialists that treat the complications of diabetes, patient advocates and representatives from the federal agencies most involved in diabetes care) to streamline federal investments in disease treatment and improve the coordination and clinical care outcomes for people with diabetes and pre-diabetes.                              

While glucose monitoring has become a valuable tool in our arsenal in the war against diabetes complications, there are still many issues to overcome, such as access of appropriate patients to high-quality products, reimbursement from private and government insurance programs, and regulatory burden on physicians’ offices , in order to ensure the estimated 28 million people with diabetes in this country receive optimal care and assure their safety,” said George Grunberger, M.D., F.A.C.P., F.A.C.E., chair of the consensus conference committee and president-elect of AACE. “Unless and until these issues are resolved, there will continue to be serious consequences for patients and their health care professionals.” 

The outgrowth of the conference will be a statement that AACE/ACE and other stakeholders will deliver to Congress highlighting the challenges currently surrounding glucose monitoring and outlining potential solutions.

About the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) 

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) represents more than 6,500 endocrinologists in the United States and abroad. AACE is the largest association of clinical endocrinologists in the world. The majority of AACE members are certified in endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism and concentrate on the treatment of patients with endocrine and metabolic disorders including diabetes, thyroid disorders, osteoporosis, growth hormone deficiency, cholesterol disorders, hypertension and obesity. Visit our website at www.aace.com.

About the American College of Endocrinology (ACE) 
The American College of Endocrinology (ACE) is the educational and scientific arm of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE). ACE is the leader in advancing the care and prevention of endocrine and metabolic disorders by providing professional education and reliable public health information; recognizing excellence in education, research and service; promoting clinical research and defining the future of clinical endocrinology. For more information, please visit www.aace.com/college.