Diabetes Ambassadors Study Results

1. CDE-Ambassador Studies
Research led by Paresh Dandona
BSc, MD, DPhil, FRCP, FACP, FACC, FACE
Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Pharmacology
School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Division Head, Endocrinology and Metabolism
State University of New York at Buffalo
Founder, Diabetes-Endocrinology Center of Western New York,
Buffalo, New York

2. Study 1:
CDE-Ambassador
A Novel Approach To Comprehensive
Diabetes Care At The Primary Care Level
Presented at American Association of Diabetes Educators
(AADE) 2015 Conference based on research led by
Paresh Dandona, BSc, MD, DPhil,
FRCP, FACP, FACC, FACE

3. Study 1:
CDE-Ambassador
A Novel Approach To Comprehensive
Diabetes Care At The Primary Care Level
Presented at American Association of Diabetes Educators
(AADE) 2015 Conference based on research led by
Paresh Dandona, BSc, MD, DPhil,
FRCP, FACP, FACC, FACE
Study Summary:
https://www.ajmc.com/journals/evidence-based-diabetes-management/2016/december-2016/utilization-of-cdes-in-primary-
care-under-the-guidance-of-an-endocrinologist-better-than-any-new-drug-researcher-says
Link to PDF of article:
https://ajmc.s3.amazonaws.com/_media/_pdf/EBDM_1216_final.pdf
ADDITIONAL REFERENCES
From 2015 AADE Conference:
https://www.aademeeting.org/news/team-approach-helps-patients-reduce-a1c-levels/
Link to full set of slides with detailed data presented at 2015 AADE Conference below:
https://www.diabeteseducator.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/f27b.pdf?sfvrsn=0

4. “When he dispatched CDEs to work alongside a primary care physician (PCP), but under his guidance, the educators were able to gain significant improvements in
glycated hemoglobin (A1C) in patients with diabetes, which Dandona deemed “better than any new drug.”
100 patients managed by the CDEs had a mean A1C reduction of 1.6% after 6 months, while a control group of 45 patients treated only by the PCP saw a reduction
of only 0.26%. Patients treated by the CDEs lost more weight, as well, with their body mass index falling by 1.3 kg/m2 in the intervention group compared with 0.1
kg/m2 for the control group. The CDE-treated group also recorded improvements in blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides
superior to those in the controls.
There were some differences between the 2 groups: the intervention group was slightly younger (mean age of 58 years vs 61 years in the control group), and a much
higher share of the group had been diagnosed within the past 5 years (62% vs 42%). But as Dandona explained, that may be the point. Too often, he said, PCPs fail
to make timely adjustments to treatment regimens early in the course of the disease, which is when patients are known to respond better to therapy.
Deploying trained CDEs into primary care can help tackle the “mountain of diabetes,” he said. This is a group that is highly committed, but they need guidance from
specialists. The data reveal that the CDEs were more aggressive in making medication changes: 52% of the CDE group had modifications to their regimen compared
with 37.7% of the PCP group. Of note, the A1C decline was greater among patients who had a therapy change (mean of 1.9%) compared with those whose therapy
was not changed (1.1%).
After the 6-month intervention, when patients returned to management by the PCP alone, the A1C reduction in the intervention group diminished somewhat, to 1.2%
at 12 months. This was still greater than the decline in the control group, which was 0.7% at 12 months. Notably, the average A1C for the intervention group was
below 7% at 6 months, but crept back up to 7.8% after patients stopped seeing the CDE. In the control group, the average A1C was 8% at 6 months and 7.9% at 12
months. Benefits in blood pressure, weight loss, triglycerides, and LDL cholesterol were largely maintained in the CDE group, despite the rise in A1C at 12 months.
Dandona said the results highlight the problem of clinical inertia, which affect his ability to change patient behavior when patients progress and are referred to him.
“There are a lot of patients who need attention, but we are basically sitting there doing nothing,” he said. When these patients get to the endocrinologist, “they are
already reticent in changing their habits, because for years, they’ve been told they are perfectly OK.”
The results also show how the standards of care could be revolutionized by “letting loose” CDEs to take a more active role in primary care. “CDEs working with
endocrinologists can change outcomes in a really remarkable fashion, such that the whole face of diabetes can be changed,” he said.
Study 1:
CDE-Ambassador: A Novel Approach To Comprehensive
Diabetes Care At The Primary Care Level
Summary

5. Study 2:
Certified Diabetes Educator-Ambassador (CDE-A)
Involvement Improves Diabetic Control and
Cardiovascular Risk Factors
at Primary Care Level
Presented at Endocrine Society 2016 Meeting:
Research led by
Paresh Dandona, BSc, MD, DPhil,
FRCP, FACP, FACC, FACE

6. View Full Study at: https://endo.confex.com/endo/2016endo/webprogram/Paper27541.html
Presented at Endocrine Society 2016 Meeting:
“We have previously shown that the involvement of a CDE, empowered by guidance from a diabetologist, termed CDE-Ambassador (CDE-A), in the management of
the diabetes at the primary care level, results in marked benefits. Retrospective analysis of data obtained from 100 such patients showed improvements in glycemic
control (HbA1c from 8.4% to 6.8%; p<0.0001), body weight (from 102 to 99Kg; p<0.0001), systolic blood pressure (from 134 to 128 mm; p<002), diastolic blood
pressure (from 80 to 77 mm; p<0.003) and serum triglycerides (from 189 to 162 mg/dl; p<0.003) and LDLc concentrations (from 108 to 96 mg/dl; p<0.0004) following
2 to 3 consultations over a period of 6 months. [Micro-albuminuria did not alter significantly.] There was no significant change in any of these indices in 45 control
patients who did not consult with the CDE-A. We have now investigated the durability of this effect by getting follow up data at 12 months without further intervention
after 6 months. The beneficial effect on HbA1c diminished from a reduction of 1.6% from the baseline at 6 months to 1.1% over the following 6 months without further
visits to the CDE-A. However, the benefits in BMI, blood pressure, triglycerides and LDLc were largely maintained, without significant attenuation. These indices did
not change in the control group. We conclude that the involvement of the empowered CDE-A can contribute to improvements in diabetic control and indices of
cardiovascular risk. While the maintenance of HbA1c probably requires repeated visits to CDE-A, the other indices related cardiovascular risk are effectively
controlled for at least one year. A network of CDE-As, empowered by diabetologists at the primary care level could help prevent diabetic microvascular and
macrovascular complications.”
Study 2:
Certified Diabetes Educator-Ambassador (CDE-A)
Involvement Improves Diabetic Control and
Cardiovascular Risk Factors
at Primary Care Level
Summary

7. One of the first Diabetes Ambassador/ Endocrinologist Liaisons is Lori Crassi, RD, CDE. Lori is currently
a Diabetes Ambassador for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York and was trained by Dr. Dandona.
Prior to that, Lori worked with the Seneca Nation of Indians in Western NY for 16 years. A quote from Lori
regarding the excellent results of the Diabetes Ambassadors program is below:
"During my 16 years of employment with the Seneca Nation of Indians in Western NY, as a Registered Dietitian and Certified
Diabetes Educator (CDE), I had many opportunities to work with Native Americans and provide health care, specializing in diabetes
and nutrition. The Seneca Nation is one of many tribes that applied for and received funding through the Special Diabetes Project for
Indians from Congress, which was administered by Indian Health Services.
One of the most amazing programs was bringing endocrinologist, Dr. Paresh Dandona to our clinic to assist in coordinating diabetes
care for our patients. Dr. Dandona developed an innovative and effective approach to best utilize endocrinologists, CDEs and primary
care doctors to make a positive difference in the lives of people with diabetes. Though dedication to each individual patient, helping
them to see improvement in their diabetes control. Always demonstrating commitment and positivity that their blood sugars can and
will improve. Watching people transform their attitudes about diabetes and medical care and their own ability to be successful in
making a difference in their health was priceless.
The vast knowledge that was shared with me made me a better clinician and allowed me to bring new treatment and education
options to my patients.
Time and time again we were able to avoid emergencies like low blood sugars and incorrectly taking their medications. A1Cs were
lowered and we saw improvement in diabetes control and more patients having their eye and foot exams, testing their blood sugars
and following up with their providers due to the Diabetes Ambassadors program that Dr. Dandona introduced to our patients.
Unfortunately I am unable to share any specific data that was collected over the years showing our patients success. The data is
considered proprietary data to the Seneca Nation."