New NICE Guidance on Type 2 Diabetes

On 2nd December 2015 NICE published NICE Guidance (NG28) “Type 2 diabetes in adults: management”.

This guideline covers the care and management of type 2 diabetes in adults (aged 18 and over). It focuses on patient education, dietary advice, managing cardiovascular risk, managing blood glucose levels, and identifying and managing long-term complications.

As part of the guidance NICE has issued a suite of resources and a link to the algorithm for blood glucose lowering therapy in adults can be found here.

When the guideline was launched NICE said:

“The guideline update focuses on tailoring advice and treatments to the person’s circumstances, including considering co-existing illnesses, and reassessing their needs at each review.

The guideline underlines the importance of structured education for adults with type 2 diabetes and/or their family members or carers to help them develop the knowledge and skills to self-manage diabetes. New recommendations on blood glucose management give clarity on the sequence of drug treatments to offer, and when to consider adding further drugs, to achieve and maintain target blood glucose (sugar) levels. An algorithm to help clinicians make decisions on drug treatments is a key feature of the guideline.

In addition to making recommendations on managing blood pressure and dietary advice, the guideline also covers managing complications including eye disease and erectile dysfunction, and points to related NICE guidance on diabetic foot problems”.

This guideline updates and replaces ‘Type 2 diabetes’ (NICE guideline CG87).