Management of Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is chronic metabolic illness that needs a large spectrum of interventions to prevent the development of the acute and chronic complications.

Principles of management:

Management of type 1 diabetes:
Use of exogenous insulin for glycaemic control (type 1 is fatal without insulin)
Education in self management
Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG)
Specific measures to manage complications

Management of type 2 diabetes:
Control symptoms
Education in self management
Obtain reasonable glycaemic control (exercise, diet, drugs)
Reduce risk factors for macrovascular and macrovascular disease
Detect (screening) and treat complications early

Aim to:
Reduce random blood glucose levels 4 – 8 mmol/L (“fine line” between good or tight glycaemic control and the avoidance of the chronic and acute complications)
HbA1c < 7% (supported by evidence from DCCT & UKPDS) Cholesterol < 5.5mmol/L (aggressive management of dyslipidaemia reduces risk of macrovascular disease; Haffner, 1998) Blood pressure 140/90 or less (strong correlation between hypertension and adverse outcomes in diabetes) BMI <25kg/m2 Cigarette consumption = 0 (higher risk of macrovascular disease and mortality in those that smoke; ) Alcohol consumption < 2 standard drinks a day Exercise at least 20 minutes, 4+ days/week

We have not yet got to this page. We will eventually. Please contact us if you have something to contribute to it or sign up for our newsletter or like us on Facebook and Instagram or follow us on Twitter.

Page last updated: @ 11:02 am