On diabetes care in america and the power of prevention.

Dear Dr. Nash, I am preparing to complete my fourth year of medical school at the University of South Florida College of Medicine. As a strong proponent for lifestyle medicine, I greatly enjoyed your recent editorial that appeared in the March 2008 issue of P&T, entitled “Changing Diabetes Care: An Op portunity for the Feds.” Your reflections were right on target and very timely. I was also struck by how closely a recent presentation I gave was mirrored in your words and figures. The pres entation, called “The Power of Prevention,” was made to a group of students and faculty at USF. I recently posted it online for public viewing at www.authorstream.com. The presentation carefully outlines the growth of life style diseases (type2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome in particular) over the last 30 years. It then presents the medical literature that supports lifestyle intervention and addresses common misconceptions and challenges ahead. The data are disturbing when you look at the personal and financial costs to our nation, but they are optimistic when you see how powerful lifestyle inter ventions can be. I hope you will pass on the link, and I know you will never stop being a passionate voice for rational health care. Many thanks for your continued leadership in this area. I am hopeful that the future will bring change, and I am excited by the opportunity to be part of it.