Interactive Web Site Promotes Diabetes Control

In 2001, Novo Nordisk Pharmaceuticals, Inc, initiated a massive international study called DAWN (diabetes attitudes, wishes, and needs). The study included more than 5000 people with diabetes and 3000 health care professionals in 13 countries. So much information was generated that the results are only now starting to come in.

One particularly interesting outgrowth of the study is an interactive Web site for patients and diabetes educators. The site is located at www.novotrack-us.com/. After patients register at the site, their responses to a few questions generate short ?tracks??from over 200,000 possible combinations?that provide an educational course personalized for the patient. The site also provides tools to assist patients and their health care providers with management of the disorder, including blood glucose targets, as well as cholesterol, weight, and blood pressure monitoring aids. Through a ?personal scorecard,? participants can keep track of lab and blood glucose test results, physical examination findings, and doctor appointments.