Case: 45-Year-Old African American Female with T1D

Target Audience
This activity has been designed to address the educational needs of clinicians involved in the care and management of patients with or at risk for DR/diabetic macular edema (DME), including primary care providers (ie, internists, family practitioners, nurse practitioners, and PAs), endocrinologists, optometrists, comprehensive ophthalmologists, residents, retina specialists, and retina fellows.

Program Overview
Many populations face barriers to healthcare. Some of these barriers are defined as social determinants of health (SDOH), which are outward conditions that affect access to and uptake of healthcare resources, including education levels, healthcare costs, and childcare issues. These determinants can be mitigated by clinicians who seek the root reasons behind nonadherence of patients to office visits, taking medication, and follow-up care. This interactive case consult examines an African American woman whose health is challenged with diabetes and diabetic retinopathy (DR), identifies how SDOH have affected her life and presented a barrier to maintaining optimal health, and provides strategies for clinicians to employ in ensuring her optimal health.

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this activity, participants should be better able to:

Identify barriers to diabetic eye care in vulnerable patient populations, such as older patients and racial and ethnic minorities
Implement strategies that are proven to address disparities in diabetic eye care among underserved patient populations, including racial and ethnic minorities and older patients