Management of Diabetes

The management of diabetes should aim to minimise symptoms and reduce the likelihood of complications occurring in a way that will allow the person living with diabetes to experience the best quality of life (Davey, 2006; NICE, 2015, 2019).

Health care professionals should work with people who have diabetes through the care planning process to develop and achieve their individual goals, agreeing on targets for blood glucose, blood pressure and blood fats. These should be reviewed at least once a year for everyone with diabetes, as this is crucial for optimum diabetes management.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (2017, 2022) advises that all adults with diabetes should receive an initial review at diagnosis and then subsequent annual reviews. The assessment of patient education, arterial risk factors and the development of complications are advised.

Diabetic foot disease is among the most serious complications of diabetes mellitus. It is a source of major suffering and financial costs for not only the health services but also the patient. It can cause a considerable burden on the patient’s family, health care professionals and society in general. (IWGDF, 2019)

NICE (2017, 2022) recommends referring people at moderate or high risk of developing a diabetic foot problem to the foot protection service allows their feet to be assessed at an early stage and then reassessed at regular intervals. This can reduce the likelihood of them getting foot ulcers or other foot problems.