PERSONAL BLOG
Type 2 Diabetes
NICE criteria for diagnosis
Prediabetes: HbA1c - 42 to 47mmol/mol (6 to 6.4%)
Diabetes: HbA1c - 48mmol/mol or higher (6.5%) on 2 independent occasions OR fasting plasma glucose β 7mmol/L or higher on 2 independent occasions
π HbA1c diagnosis should not be used in the following instances: rapid blood sugar increase/ increased red cell turnover/ pregnancy/ anaemia/ haemoglobinopathies β
π Where possible a second test should be performed to confirm accuracy
Gestational Diabetes: oral glucose tolerance test (after 75g load):
π Fasting: 5.1mmol/L or higher
π 1 hour: 10mmol/L or higher β±
π 2 hour: 8.5mmol/L or higher β±
Management
Blood Pressure Target:
π Diagnostic thresholds β Clinic BP greater than 140/90, fit ABPM, and if ABPM is greater than 135/85, diagnose hypertension
Treatment Target:
π Clinic BP less than 140/90 if patient is over 80 years old (y/o) OR clinic bp less than 150/90 if patient is 80 y/o or older
Cholesterol Target:
π 40% decrease in non-high-density-lipoprotein (non-HDL) cholesterol (to prevent both primary and secondary type 2 diabetes prevention)
HbA1c Target:
π Intensify lifestyle treatment if HbA1C is above 48/6.5% OR intensify all treatment if HbA1c is above 58/7.5%
Treatment
Lifestyle changes:
π Refer patient to an educational programme when diagnosed
π Annually reinforce the importance of diet/lifestyle management
π In overweight patients: aim to reduce weight by 5 to 10% β¬
π Ask male patients if they have experienced erectile dysfunction, annually (if so, review CVD risk factors/offer treatments such as PDE5 inhibitor if lifestyle changes alone are ineffective) π¨
Blood Pressure:
π Follow hypertension guidelines presented by NICE (2019)
π 1st line: patients of all ages/ethnicities should be given an ACE inhibitor (ARB if ACE cannot be tolerated) π
π 2nd line: 2 of the following should be given β ACE, CCB, thiazide-like diuretic π
π 3rd line: ACE + CCB + thiazide-like diuretic π
π 4th line: if potassium is less than or equal to 4.5, add spironolactone to the treatment OR if potassium is greater than 4.5, add alpha/beta blocker to the treatment π
Lipids:
π Primary prevention β 20mg of Atorvastatin if QRISK is 10% or higher (reduce non-HDL cholesterol 40%) π
π Secondary prevention β 80mg of Atorva (reduce non-HDL cholesterol 40%) π
π Aspirin/antiplatelets - Do NOT use unless CVD already diagnosed π
Glycaemic control:
π Intensify treatment if HbA1c is greater than 48/6.5% when lifestyle changes are being used as the only form of management OR intensify treatment if HbA1c is greater than 58/7.5% when any drug therapy is being used as management β¬
π Targets following intensification of treatment: 48/6.5% for patient on monotherapy with metformin/gliptin/piogitazone OR 53/7% for patients on any other treatments π
π Treatment should be patient specific to ensure the patientβs lifestyle improves
π Patient should only monitor their own levels if they are on insulin for example
Foot care:
π Annually examine to identify risk factors (neuropathy [treated with 10mg of monofilament]/ischaemia/ulceration, callouses, infection, gangrene/deformity [Charcotβs arthropathy])
π If more than 1 of the risk factors are present, refer the patient
Autonomic neuropathy:
π Hypo unawareness
π Urinary incontinence π§
π Gastrointestinal tract symptoms (gastroparesis, treated with erythromycin/diarrhoea)
Peripheral neuropathy:
π Tightly controlling glycaemic levels reduces neuropathy progression
π Treat neuropathy according to NICE guidelines
Renal:
π Follow NICE CKD guidelines
Eyes:
π Annual screening of eyes π
Hypertension in Type 2 Diabetes
NICE 2019 guidance: hypertension in patients with type 2 diabetes is now treated in the same way as people without diabetes
π Clinic BP higher than 140/90, fit ABPM, and if ABPM is greater than 135/85 - diagnose hypertension
π BP should be measured when patient is sitting and standing to identify postural hypertension
π Antihypertensive drug treatment - offer to patients with stage 2 hypertension, discuss with patients with stage 1 hypertension who have a greater than 10% 10-year CVD risk, consider it for patients who are under 60 y/o with stage 1 hypertension but have a less than 10% 10-year CVD risk π
π Initiate treatment with an ACE inhibitor π
π Aim is to get clinic BP below 140/90 (or 150/90 if the patient is 80 y/o or older) β¬