Charles George VA Medical Center - Asheville, NC
CGVAMC Research Published
Photo 1: Beth Greck, PharmD, CDE,(pictured left) BCACP and Jancy Killian PharmD, BCACP (pictured right)
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Providers have choices when they are selecting the best treatment for patients with diabetes. Best practices are constantly changing as new information is revealed through clinical trials, studies and other scientific research. A Charles George VA Medical Center study was recently published in the national journal “Clinical Diabetes”.
The team included VA Pharmacist Providers Beth Greck, PharmD, CDE, BCACP, and Jancy Killian, PharmD, BCACP, and former pharmacy resident Caitlin Moorman-Spangler, PharmD. The study looked at insulin therapies and the delivery devices that are used to accommodate individual patient needs. The intent was to see if patients were better able to control their blood sugar with a particular insulin delivery method.
“This study involved a chart review of veterans with type 2 diabetes who across a period of time received insulin aspart, (fast-acting insulin taken with meals) in vials and were then switched to insulin aspart pens,” said Greck.
The results of the study showed no significant difference between the two methods even though patients commonly prefer the insulin aspart pens for the sake of convenience. Given that both options were equally effective the team felt that providers should thoroughly consider all potential reasons for uncontrolled diabetes.
“This particular research project provided our facility and medical providers with evidence that a change in insulin delivery device does not equate to better diabetes management,” said Greck. “Since this is something clinicians and patients deal with on a daily basis it is rewarding to see the work given the credibility of publication.”
The team also said that they felt honored to be able to share their efforts through the publication of their VA research and they hope this new literature helps VA providers understand that VA guidelines for medication use can improve patient care.
