Removal of intrauterine contraception with non-visible threads: a case series.

Objectives: (1) To review management of a series of women referred for removal of intrauterine contraception (IUC) with non-visible threads. (2) To establish whether the device was likely to have been placed at the fundus at insertion. (3) To document removal success rates in a community sexual health (CSH) setting.

Prevalence of diagnosed sleep apnea among patients with type 2 diabetes in primary care.

Background: Although up to 90% of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), the rate at which primary care providers diagnose OSA in patients with diabetes has not been assessed.

Methods: A retrospective, population-based, multiclinic study was performed to determine the proportion of patients with T2DM managed in primary care clinics who were given a diagnosis of OSA and to identify factors associated with an OSA diagnosis. Electronic health records of adult patients with a diagnosis of T2DM were reviewed for a coexisting diagnosis of OSA, and the diagnostic prevalence of OSA was compared with the expected prevalence.

Evaluating older patients with diabetes for insulin pump therapy.

The increasing prevalence of diabetes among elderly patients underscores the importance of matching the most effective therapy for diabetes self-management with patients' cognitive and motor skills, as these diminish with advancing age. Although many geriatric patients state interest in insulin pump therapy for tight glycemic control, few studies have examined the effectiveness, safety, and feasibility of insulin pumps compared to traditional injected insulin therapy in older age groups. It is important, therefore, for physicians to recognize the indications and the age-related barriers to insulin pump therapy in geriatric patients.

Development of a protocol for capillary blood glucose testing in nursing home and rehabilitation settings.

Objectives: To develop an algorithm to standardize capillary blood glucose (CBG) testing in nursing home and rehabilitation patients.

Design: Descriptive study in which an interdisciplinary team from a nursing home, a rehabilitation center, and a diabetes mellitus care program developed and tested a protocol to standardize diabetes management parameters and CBG testing frequency.

Setting: Department of Veterans Affairs nursing home and rehabilitation unit.