If you have diabetes, Fairview Hugo Clinic offers you some of the best care available in Minnesota to reduce your risk of cardiovascular complications.

The Minnesota Community Measurement Project recently launched a website, www.thed5.org, that allows comparison of various clinics throughout the state in care of diabetes. Fairview Hugo Clinic, 14663 Mercantile Dr., Hugo, ranks fourth among all clinics measured with more then 30 percent of its adult patients with diabetes achieving the D5 goals. The D5 average for clinics statewide was 13.5 percent. Another Fairview clinic, Fairview Oxboro Clinic, led the comparison with 36 percent of its patients with diabetes achieving the desired goals. (Results reported are for patients, age 18-75 who reached all five goals in 2006.)

The Minnesota Community Measurement Project explains that the D5 are five treatment goals that have been found to achieve the best possible outcomes for a person with diabetes. They are: a hemoglobin A1c level of less than 7 percent, blood pressure less than 130/80 mmHg, bad cholesterol (LDL-C) of less than 100 mg/dl, daily aspirin use for patients age 41-75 and staying tobacco free.

“Reaching all five goals has been found to greatly reduce a patient’s risk of complications associated with diabetes,” says Dr. John Northwood of Fairview Hugo Clinic. “The more that patients with diabetes remain in control, the more eyes, hearts and other organs are saved from irreparable damage and life-threatening injury.” Northwood said that at Fairview Hugo Clinic, physicians and staff partner with patients with diabetes to help them achieve the desired goals.

Fairview Hugo Clinic and three other clinics in the same Fairview Lakes Health Services group, in June were recognized with the Minnesota Bridges to Excellence ® award for Optimal Diabetes Care. The other Fairview Lakes’ clinics recognized were Fairview Chisago Lakes Clinic, Chisago City; Fairview North Branch Clinic and Fairview Rush City Clinic. In all, 15 Fairview clinics were among 36 honored by the Minnesota Business Health Care Action Group for achieving outstanding outcomes in care of adults with diabetes.