Adults with type 2 diabetes: management - NICE guideline

 

The guideline covers the care and management of adults with type 2 diabetes (aged 18 and over). It emphasizes patient education, nutritional guidance, cardiovascular risk management, blood glucose management, and identifying and managing long-term problems.

What is diabetes type 2?

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease marked by insulin resistance (the body's inability to use insulin efficiently) and insufficient pancreatic insulin synthesis, resulting in high blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia). Obesity, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, abnormal blood lipid levels, and a proclivity for thrombosis are all prominent symptoms of type 2 diabetes, which is linked to an elevated cardiovascular risk. It's linked to long-term microvascular and macrovascular issues, as well as a lower quality of life and shorter lifespan.

Diabetes was diagnosed in approximately 3.2 million adults in 2013, with prevalence rates of 6% and 6.7 percent in England and Wales, respectively. Type 2 diabetes affects around 90% of adults currently diagnosed with the disease. People of African, African-Caribbean, and South Asian descent are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. It can affect people of various ages, and children are increasingly being diagnosed with it.

Type 2 diabetes affects around 90% of adults currently diagnosed with the disease.

Multiple vascular risk factors and a wide range of complications make diabetes care complicated and time consuming, necessitating the management of many different types of healthcare services. Patient education and self-management are crucial parts of diabetes care due to the necessity of lifestyle modifications, as well as the complexities and potential side effects of therapy. Diabetes care is estimated to account for at least 5% of UK healthcare spending and up to 10% of NHS spending.

This guideline focuses on patient education, nutritional advice, cardiovascular risk management, blood glucose level management, and identifying and managing long-term consequences in adults with type 2 diabetes. The guideline excludes diagnosis, secondary diabetes, adult type 1 diabetes, diabetes during pregnancy, and diabetes in children and adults.

Who is it intended for?

Adult diabetes care adults

Diabetes service commissioners and providers

Type 2 diabetes adults, as well as their family and caregivers