Problem: Diabetes mellitus is a dysfunction of metabolism affecting more than 25 million Americans and was the 7 th leading cause of death in the United States in 2010. The effectiveness of physician assistants (PAs) in treating patients with diabetes compared to other health care providers such as nurse practitioners (NPs) or physicians is of interest as PAs often care for patients in the primary care setting. Methods: The Weill Cornell Medical College Library online and the PubMed search engine were used to search for articles published between 2003 and 2013. Search terms included "diabetes", "physician assistant", "glycosylated hemoglobin", "glycated hemoglobin", "dietitian", "nutritionist", "diabetes educator" and "diabetes outcomes." Results: The number of articles identified was 673. Only 9 studies met inclusion criteria and 2 studies evaluated the effects of PAs on diabetes outcomes such as hemoglobin A1 (Hgb A1c) and cholesterol levels. Outcomes for NPs, certified diabetes educators (CDEs), and registered dietitians (RDs) were more promising than preliminary results for PAs. Conclusions: Further studies are needed to better evaluate diabetes outcomes when care is primarily delivered by PAs to determine if patient outcomes are comparable, that is, at least as good, as other primary care providers, namely NPs and physicians.

This issue of Physician Assistant Clinics, Guest Edited by Kim Zuber, PA-C and Jane S. Davis, CRNP, DNP, is devoted to Diabetes. Articles in this outstanding issue include: A Century of Discovery: The Centennial of Insulin; What it is and How we know: Diabetes in the 21st Century; The Ominous Octet and other Scary Diabetes Stories; Putting the Diabetes Patient in Charge; Diabetes: Counting Carbs Instead of Pennies; Non-insulin Therapy for Diabetes; Pens and Needles: Insulin Therapy for Diabetes; Managing Diabetes in the Digital Age; When Crisis Strikes: The acute complications of diabetes; Living Day to Day: Chronic Complications in Diabetes; Sugar Babies: Diabetes in the Pediatric Population; And Baby Makes 2: Gestational Diabetes; The Boomers Come of Age: Elderly and Frail Diabetes Patients; The Rising Price of Sugar; and The Future of Diabetes. A CME program is also available to subscribers of Physician Assistant Clinics.

Here's the only book dedicated to giving you the complete information that you need to become an effective Physician Assistant and maintain those high standards in practice. This up-to-date edition covers all aspects of the physician assistant profession, the PA curriculum, and the PA's role in practice, all in an easy-to-use textbook format that features convenient tables and clear illustrations, as well as case studies and clinical application questions. You'll find this book invaluable throughout your course of study, when entering the job market, and as an excellent reference in clinical practice. And, with this Expert Consult title, you'll be able to search the entire contents of the book, online, from anywhere. Covers all the core competencies that you need to master for year one or for recertification, so you can excel. Gives you the information you need on all of the rotations and practice areas that are open to you to help you make the right decisions. Offers practical Pros and Cons box for each rotation and area of practice to aid in day-to-day decision making. Utilizes a fresh new two color format for better visual guidance. Focuses on clinical information with case studies included at the end of each chapter. Includes a new chapter on evidence-based medicine to prepare you for daily practice. Provides Expert Consult access so you can search the entire contents of the book, online. Includes a new chapter on Physician Assistants in international medicine to keep you on the cutting edge. Your purchase entitles you to access the website until the next edition is published, or until the current edition is no longer offered for sale by Elsevier, whichever occurs first. If the next edition is published less than one year after your purchase, you will be entitled to online access for one year from your date of purchase. Elsevier reserves the right to offer a suitable replacement product (such as a downloadable or CD-ROM-based electronic version) should access to the website be discontinued.

Annotation *The only resource that focuses on key clinical content in PA practice as well as what is likely to be covered in certification and recertification exams *Features contributions by more than 90 outstanding physician assistants *New to this edition: expanded coverage of substance abuse, including tobacco; new chapters on dermatology, pediatrics, OB-GYN, infectious disease, respiratory disease, and more.

Explore the past, present, and future of PA practice. The authors, noted educators, researchers, and practitioners, draw on extensive research to trace the evolution of the PA’s roles and responsibilities in the delivery of health care services. Their presentation of historical content balanced with discussions of the ethical, educational, legislative, and economic forces that are shaping that the profession makes this a contemporary classroom tool for PA’s learning their field and their roles.