Diabetics 'could benefit from frequent doctor visits'

Seeing a doctor more often could benefit patients with diabetes, new research has indicated.

A study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that frequent visits to the doctor are linked to a faster achievement of blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol treatment goals.

High levels of blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol are known to increase complications in diabetes.

According to authors of the study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, many aspects of a visit to the doctor could affect this speed of achievement.

"Physicians may be prescribing new medications or increasing the dose of existing ones," explained Alexander Turchin, senior author.

"Another process occurring is lifestyle counselling. Physicians are telling patients how they can improve their diet. They are telling their patients to exercise more and lose weight, which is going to help their diabetes control."

In other news, a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has discovered a series of insulin switches in the pancreas which could lead to the development of a new diabetes drug.

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