Comments on: A Link Between Sleep Apnea and Diabetes Confirmed—Again http://doctorstevenpark.com/a-link-between-sleep-apnea-and-diabetes-confirmed%e2%80%94again How You Can Breathe Better, Sleep Better, And Live Better1 Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:10:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Dr. Steven Y. Park http://doctorstevenpark.com/a-link-between-sleep-apnea-and-diabetes-confirmed%e2%80%94again/comment-page-1#comment-13349 Dr. Steven Y. Park Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:21:02 +0000 http://doctorstevenpark.com/?p=2676#comment-13349 I agree. Anything that can increase awareness is a good thing, but there's always a potential down side: Our current success rates in long-term treatment (including CPAP, oral appliances and surgery) is still very low, and the field is very fragmented, with no effective communication amongst all the treating professionals. Many people are diagnosed, but a significant number fall through the cracks. First we need to fix the broken system before brining more people into it (like our healthcare system in general). What we need is a unified, collaborative, interdisciplinary system that's not only efficient at diagnosing, but also treating this chronic condition effectively over a long-term period. We also have to be careful to promote awareness in a way that's ultimately benefiting the patients, and not just the sleep industry's interests. I hope to talk about these issues when I interview on my Expert Interview Series Mr. Ed Grandi, Executive Director of the American Sleep Apnea Association on 11/24. Thanks for commenting. I agree. Anything that can increase awareness is a good thing, but there’s always a potential down side: Our current success rates in long-term treatment (including CPAP, oral appliances and surgery) is still very low, and the field is very fragmented, with no effective communication amongst all the treating professionals. Many people are diagnosed, but a significant number fall through the cracks. First we need to fix the broken system before brining more people into it (like our healthcare system in general).

What we need is a unified, collaborative, interdisciplinary system that’s not only efficient at diagnosing, but also treating this chronic condition effectively over a long-term period. We also have to be careful to promote awareness in a way that’s ultimately benefiting the patients, and not just the sleep industry’s interests.

I hope to talk about these issues when I interview on my Expert Interview Series Mr. Ed Grandi, Executive Director of the American Sleep Apnea Association on 11/24.

Thanks for commenting.

]]> By: Dean Rim http://doctorstevenpark.com/a-link-between-sleep-apnea-and-diabetes-confirmed%e2%80%94again/comment-page-1#comment-13227 Dean Rim Fri, 30 Oct 2009 17:59:26 +0000 http://doctorstevenpark.com/?p=2676#comment-13227 I agree that OSA awareness in this country is extremely low and that millions of Americans are suffering from many serious health conditions because of undiagnosed OSA. I agree that celebrities, politicians and the news can play a role in increasing awareness, but I believe true change comes from the private sector... Organizations that profit from the diagnosis and treatment of OSA need to leverage their marketing resources to increase awareness (TV & print ads) to both doctors and the public. These organizations are CPAP manufacturers, big hopitals, local sleep clinics, local DMEs, or even the federal government (CDC). The business model that really works today are the pharamceutical companies. For diseases they treat with drugs, they spend huge amounts of money on TV/print ads...look at Lipitor or Vigra for example. Because of these ads, public awareness of heart disease and ED has sky rocketed. If Respironics Corp. started a national marketing campaign on OSA awareness, their sales of CPAPs would grow fast. I agree that OSA awareness in this country is extremely low and that millions of Americans are suffering from many serious health conditions because of undiagnosed OSA. I agree that celebrities, politicians and the news can play a role in increasing awareness, but I believe true change comes from the private sector…

Organizations that profit from the diagnosis and treatment of OSA need to leverage their marketing resources to increase awareness (TV & print ads) to both doctors and the public. These organizations are CPAP manufacturers, big hopitals, local sleep clinics, local DMEs, or even the federal government (CDC).

The business model that really works today are the pharamceutical companies. For diseases they treat with drugs, they spend huge amounts of money on TV/print ads…look at Lipitor or Vigra for example. Because of these ads, public awareness of heart disease and ED has sky rocketed. If Respironics Corp. started a national marketing campaign on OSA awareness, their sales of CPAPs would grow fast.

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