IN BRIEF “Quality Improvement Success Stories” are published by the American Diabetes Association in collaboration with the American College of Physicians, Inc., and the National Diabetes Education Program. This series is intended to highlight best practices and strategies from programs and clinics that have successfully improved the quality of care for people with diabetes or related conditions. Each article in the series is reviewed and follows a standard format developed by the editors of Clinical Diabetes. The following article describes an initiative to provide more intensive diabetes care and support in a primary care setting and thereby improve patients’ glycemic, blood pressure, and lipid control, as well as BMI and psychosocial well-being.

IN BRIEF This study examined whether clinical benefits gained while participating in interdisciplinary diabetes shared medical appointments (SMAs) of finite duration (three to four monthly visits) are sustained after patients return to usual care. There are currently no publications confirming sustained clinical benefits beyond 9 months after SMA discharge without continued booster sessions to maintain benefits. At the end of the study, it was confirmed that both diabetes and cardiovascular benefits gained during multidisciplinary diabetes SMAs were sustained after patients were discharged to usual care without booster sessions for up to 3 years. The only exceptions were a statistically significant decrease in diastolic blood pressure at each yearly time point and a decrease in the percentage of patients meeting an A1C goal of <9% at year 2.

IN BRIEF This study explored the impact of correcting vitamin D deficiency on blood pressure, metabolic status, and weight loss in patients with fatigue and obesity refractory to conventional interventions such as diet, exercise, behavioral modification, and pharmacotherapy. Correction of vitamin D deficiency in such patients was found to be significantly associated with weight reduction and improved insulin sensitivity.

IN BRIEF Because effectively managing patients with diabetes and hypertension requires multiple medications, the appropriate selection of a treatment regimen with good tolerability and simplified dosing is crucial. Despite the proven benefits of β-blockers in lowering blood pressure and improving cardiovascular morbidity, many physicians are reluctant to prescribe them to patients with diabetes and hypertension. This reluctance is based on the misconception that β-blockers worsen glycemic control, insulin sensitivity, and dyslipidemia and mask hypoglycemia. Unlike traditional β-blockers, vasodilatory β-blockers have favorable tolerability and metabolic profiles while offering effective blood pressure control.