Address Cardiovascular Risk too When Treating Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) accounts for approximately 90% of all diabetes cases, and cardiovascular (CV) events in people with T2DM are a major cause of the increased risk of early death and have become a rising threat to human health worldwide.
Modern Medicine – Issue 5 2023
Prevention or Delay of Type 2 Diabetes: ADA Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes–2021
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) “Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes” includes the ADA’s current clinical practice recommendations and is intended to provide the components of diabetes care, general treatment goals and guidelines, and tools to evaluate quality of care. This is a shortened version of the original article.
Modern Medicine – Issue 6 2022
Early Intervention in Prediabetes Pays off Later
People with elevated, non-diabetic, levels of blood glucose are at risk of progressing to clinical type 2 diabetes and are commonly termed ‘prediabetic’. Metformin, an established therapy for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, has demonstrated safety and effectiveness in the prevention or delay of type 2 diabetes in people at high risk.
Modern Medicine – Issue 5 2022
Assessing for Diabetes-related Complications
The duration of type 2 diabetes is increasing owing to the global trend towards obesity and younger age of onset. Screening for microvascular and macrovascular complications is recommended for people with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes should be screened for associated autoimmune conditions. Treatment targets, especially glycated haemoglobin level (HbA1c), should be individualised, taking into account relative risk and potential adverse effects.
Modern Medicine – Issue 3 2022
Diabetes in Older People, How does management change?
Diabetes in older adults is a growing health burden in South Africa and presents various challenges. Clinical manifestations of diabetes in older people are atypical and the heterogeneity of older people, ranging from the robust to the frail, should be strongly considered when developing treatment goals and strategies. Diabetes care in older people generally has a greater emphasis on maintaining quality of life, delivering personalised care, achieving comfort, and preventing symptoms and acute complications of hyperglycaemia.
Modern Medicine – Issue 1 2022
Metformin’s Benefits Come in Many Forms
Sixty years after its introduction in the diabetes pharmacopeia, metformin remains a milestone in the treatment of type 2 diabetes (T2D). From the UK Prospective Diabetes Study ( U K P D S ) onward , virtually all guidelines recommend metformin as first-line treatment for T 2 D . The well – known advantages of this agent include its glucose-lowering efficacy, low risk of hypoglycaemia, modest body weight reduction, easy combination with almost any other glucose-lowering agent and its low cost. This is a shortened version of the original article.
Modern Medicine – Issue 6 2021
Dairy: A Valuable Tool in Diabetes Prevention
Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is regarded as one of the most common chronic illnesses worldwide. In addition to that, the increase in obesity and hypertension in South Africa is of great concern. The occurrence of DM in South Africa is 9.6% (3.5 million people), while 19% of the population is glucose intolerant.
Modern Medicine – Issue 4 2021
Diabetic Cardiomyopathy Mechanisms, screening and treatment imperatives
Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) refers to structural and functional changes in the heart as a consequence of diabetes that may be independent of, or in combination with, coronary disease (microvascular, macrovascular or both). As DCM tends to be asymptomatic, it is important that GPs are vigilant in screening patients early for DCM and preventing progression.
Modern Medicine – Issue 3 2021
Chronic Kidney Disease and Type 2 Diabetes A guide to screening, diagnosis and slowing progression
It is important to screen for, diagnose and aggressively manage chronic kidney disease in people with type 2 diabetes because diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality. DKD progression can be delayed and prevented by aiming for tight glycaemic and blood pressure control and by using blockers of the renin-angiotensin system and, if appropriate, sodiumglucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors. It is also important to aggressively address cardiovascular risk factors.
Modern Medicine – Issue 1 2021
Hypertension in People with Diabetes Modern trends in management
The major cause of mortality in diabetes remains cardiovascular disease (CVD). Thus, any risk factors associated with CVD must be aggressively treated in patients with diabetes. Hypertension is one of these risk factors and should be appropriately managed in such individuals. The advent of new glucose lowering drugs such as sodium-glucose cotransporter
2 inhibitors may provide clinicians with additional opportunity to reduce BP.
Modern Medicine – Issue 6 2019
