November/December 2010 - Travis County Medical Society

Tools You Can Use: Diabetes Management
By Philip Huang, MD, MPH
Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department
Diabetes affects many Travis County residents. Fortunately,
the Texas Department of State Health Services, Texas Diabetes
Council, and the Central Texas Diabetes Coalition have
developed resources to assist health care providers in providing
optimal care for individuals with diabetes.
The Diabetes Took Kit: A Practitioner’s Reference, 5th
Edition was created by endocrinologists, physicians, nurses,
dietitians, pharmacists, and other professionals appointed to
the Medical Professionals Advisory Subcommittee of the Texas
Diabetes Council. This comprehensive manual contains over
200 pages of reference information in the following areas:
• Self-management training content based on the National
Standards for Diabetes Education
• Minimum standards of care and evidence-based treatment
algorithms; and
• Patient education handouts in English and Spanish.
Evidence-based treatment algorithms in the Diabetes Tool
Kit are updated frequently. To download the most up-to-date
version of the Tool Kit or to request a free hard copy, please
visit: http://www.tdctoolkit.org.
The Central Texas Diabetes Coalition has created My
Personal Diabetes Guide, a pocket-sized patient education tool
that empowers patients to keep track of their diabetes-related
exams and tests, medications, and blood glucose monitoring
results. My Personal Diabetes Guide is available in English
and Spanish.
To request free copies, contact Stephanie Helfman, Diabetes
Program Coordinator, Austin/Travis County Health and
Human Services Dept. at stephanie.helfman@ci.austin.tx.us
or (512) 972-6764.
Quantities are limited.
24 November • December 2010 TCMS Journal