Application of database systems in diabetes care.

The St Vincent Declaration includes a commitment to continuous quality improvement in diabetes care. This necessitates the collection of appropriate information to ensure that diabetes services are efficient, effective and equitable. The quantity of information, and the need for rapid access, means that this must be computer-based. The choice of architecture and the design of a database for diabetes care must take into account available equipment and operational requirements. Hardware topology may be determined by the operating system and/or netware software. An effective database system will include: user-friendliness, rapid but secure access to data, a facility for multiple selections for analysis and audit, the ability to be used as part of the patient consultation process, the ability to interface or integrate with other applications, and cost efficiency. An example of a clinical information database for diabetes care, Diamond, is described.