Joshua Joseph, MD, MPH: Achieving Optimal Cardiovascular Health in Diabetes

Although the field of cardiometabolic health has been witness to an explosion of advances in the last decade, the cardiovascular health of patients with diabetes remains a topic in need of addressing for endocrinologists, cardiologists, diabetes care specialists, and primary care providers.

With an interest in describing and addressing the current state of cardiovascular health among patients with diabetes, the American Heart Association released a scientific statement detailing rates of diabetes patients achieving optimal cardiovascular risk management and providing recommendations for helping patients meet goal. Composed by statement chair Joshua Joseph, MD, MPH, FAHA, and a team of 8 colleagues from institutions across the US, the 38-page document, which included more than 300 references, was published in Circulation on January 10.

“Far too few people – less than 20% of those with type 2 diabetes – are successfully managing their heart disease risk, and far too many are struggling to stop smoking and lose weight, two key CVD risk factors. Health care professionals, the health care industry and broader community organizations all have an important role to play in supporting people with type 2 diabetes,” said Joseph, who serves as an assistant professor of medicine in the division of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at The Ohio State University College of Medicine, in a statement from the American Heart Association.

The statement provides clinicians with target goals and strategies for achieving those targets, including reducing risk through improved glucose management, blood pressure and cholesterol management, physical activity, nutrition, weight management, lifestyle risk factor management, and psychosocial care. With an interest in learning more about the writing process and the specific aim of the statement writing group, Endocrinology Network reached out to Joseph and that conversation can be found below.