Diabetes, particularly type 2 diabetes mellitus, has reached epidemic proportions, with estimates of 34 million people in the United States (US) alone having the disease and another 88 million with prediabetes (National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2020). 1 Prevalence of Obesity and Severe Obesity Among Adults: United States, 2017–2018 Craig M. Hales, M.D., Margaret D. Carroll, M.S.P.H., Cheryl D. Fryar, M.S.P.H., and Cynthia L. Ogden, Ph.D. National Center for Health Statistics Data Brief, No. 360, February 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db360-h.pdf. Accessed April 17, 2021. Google Scholar Although there are many reasons for this epidemic, the most important is the significant rise in obesity in the US from 30% to 40% of the adult population over the last 20 years. 1 Prevalence of Obesity and Severe Obesity Among Adults: United States, 2017–2018 Craig M. Hales, M.D., Margaret D. Carroll, M.S.P.H., Cheryl D. Fryar, M.S.P.H., and Cynthia L. Ogden, Ph.D. National Center for Health Statistics Data Brief, No. 360, February 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db360-h.pdf. Accessed April 17, 2021. Google Scholar At the same time as the increase in diabetes and obesity, there has been a concomitant explosion of medications and technology associated with these diseases. This has resulted in a notable gap in the quality and access to care for patients with diabetes. The Diabetes Epidemic and Diabetes Fellowships for Primary Care PhysiciansEndocrine Practice Vol. 27Issue 6PreviewThe weight of the diabetes epidemic is felt throughout the population and health care system. The most recent National Diabetes Statistics Report1 indicates that 34.1 million or 13% of U.S. adults aged 18 and older have diabetes, whereas 26.8% of those aged 65 and older have it. In 2016, a diabetes diagnosis was listed on 7.8 million hospital discharges, including 1.7 million for major cardiovascular disease and 130 000 for lower-extremity amputation. Approximately 37% of individuals with diabetes have chronic kidney disease, and diabetes remains the leading cause of new cases of blindness among adults aged 18 to 64 years. Full-Text PDF Authors’ Reply: Improved Access to Quality Diabetes Care in the United States: Where Do We Go From Here?Endocrine Practice Vol. 27Issue 7PreviewWe read with interest the thoughtful commentary by Dr Leffert.1 Indeed, to tackle the lack of access for the diabetes and obesity epidemics, we must be willing to think along the lines of a comprehensive plan. We maintain, however, that such a comprehensive plan must be multifaceted and include a 1-year diabetes fellowship for primary care physicians (PCP) interested in focusing their practice on diabetes. Thus, strategies suggested by Dr Leffert in addition to an intensive diabetes fellowship are synergistic and are needed to achieve our common goal of implementing better solutions to a major clinical deficit. Full-Text PDF