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Objective: To describe the state of diabetes care among Alberta First Nations individuals with diabetes living on reserves., Design: Survey and screening for diabetes-related complications., Setting: Forty-three Alberta First Nations communities., Participants: A total of 743 self-referred First Nations individuals with known diabetes., Main Outcome Measures: Clinical measurements (glycated hemoglobin A(1c) levels, body mass index, waist circumference, total cholesterol, blood pressure, and the presence of kidney complications or proteinuria, retinopathy, and foot abnormalities), self-reported health services utilization, clinical history, and knowledge of and satisfaction with diabetes services., Results: Female participants tended to be more obese (P < .05) and to have abnormal waist circumferences more often than men (P < .05). Male participants, however, had a higher proportion of proteinuria (P < .05), hypertension (P < .05), limb complications (P < .05), and retinopathy (P < .05). Family physicians were the main diabetes care providers for most participants. Nearly half the participants felt they did not have care from a diabetes team. A total of 38% had never seen dietitians. Diabetes-related concerns were responsible for 24% of all hospitalizations and emergency department visits. Approximately 46% and 21% of participants had recommended hemoglobin A(1c) testing and foot examinations, respectively. Only 24% of participants with kidney complications were receiving treatment. A considerable proportion of participants had undiagnosed complications of diabetes: kidney damage or proteinuria (23%), high cholesterol (22%), foot complications (11%), hypertension (9%), and retinopathy (7%)., Conclusion: Diabetes care is suboptimal in Alberta First Nations communities. Rural physicians caring for First Nations individuals on reserves should be involved, along with other members of diabetes health care teams, in strategies to improve diabetes care. Our results justify the need for community-based screening for diabetes control and complications in First Nation communities.

Objective: To emphasize preconception care of women with type 1 diabetes and the role of primary care physicians in evaluating and counseling them., Quality of Evidence: Substantial level II evidence indicates that tight glycemic control before conception and early in pregnancy reduces the rate of congenital malformations. Most evidence concerning maternal and fetal risks during pregnancy in patients with type 1 diabetes is level III or IV. Little is published on the role of family physicians in providing preconception counseling or care., Main Message: Preconception care is effective in improving glycemic control early in pregnancy and in reducing the rate of congenital malformations. Preconception evaluation of type 1 diabetic patients involves assessment of prepregnancy glycemic control and diabetic complications. Preconception counseling includes discussing the rate of transmission of diabetes, the effects of pregnancy on maternal and fetal complications, and the use of contraception until optimal glycemic control can be attained., Conclusion: Primary care physicians often have frequent and early contact with women of reproductive age; they are ideal candidates for providing type 1 diabetic women with preconception evaluation and counseling.

Objective: To review the best evidence-based literature on the insulin analogue, lispro insulin, and to provide guidelines for its use., Quality of Evidence: Using the MeSH terms, lispro and insulin analogues, we searched PubMed, Current Contents, MEDLINE, and EMBASE from January 1986 to July 1998 and selected 42 articles out of 97 for high quality and relevance to family medicine. Twenty-eight were randomized controlled trials, but only two studies were blinded because lispro and regular insulin have different optimal times of administration., Main Message: The new insulin analogue, lispro, produces a much more rapid, higher, and shorter-lasting peak level of insulin than regular human insulin, thus mimicking physiologic secretion of insulin more closely. This allows insulin administration just before or just after meals and means patients can manage with fewer snacks. Lispro controls postprandial blood glucose levels better and does not cause hypoglycemia. Although most older studies showed no change in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, a few recent studies involving refinements, such as continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion or basal insulin to reduce preprandial glucose levels, have found small but significant improvements. Insulin lispro has also been used successfully in cases of insulin resistance and insulin allergy., Conclusions: Lispro is a useful addition for motivated diabetic patients who like to achieve better control of HbA1c without increased hypoglycemia and to match mealtime insulin injections with diet, exercise, and various lifestyles.