This week, new guidelines defining updated diabetes treatment standards were published by the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
The guidelines for drugs, new technology, weight management, and changeable lifestyle factors like sleep and exercise have all been made more stringent than in previous years.
Screening at-risk populations for food and housing hardship and linking them to community resources is another way the recommendations hope to reduce health disparities.
Clinicians, diabetes care experts, and policymakers, according to the authors, should refer to the updated standards of care as their primary reference when making decisions on diabetes treatment.
Increased efforts to maintain a healthy weight
This year’s recommendations include a greater emphasis on maintaining a healthy weight, as this has been shown to reverse diabetes and enhance cardiovascular health.
High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and excessive glucose levels are all health problems that can be exacerbated by obesity.
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New, more efficient drugs for obesity and methods to help patients better manage their glucose levels are now accessible.
Recent developments in diabetes medications, in Ahn’s words, “have allowed people with diabetes to achieve more weight loss and, in turn, better diabetic management than ever before.”
Family physician and diabetes expert Dr. Thomas Grace, who also serves as medical director of the Blanchard Valley Diabetes Center, argues that the recent emphasis on weight loss has been crucial.
Grace argued that the process of weight loss makes it easier to manage diabetes.
Focusing on cutting-edge tech
The new recommendations centre on the application of cutting-edge technologies including telehealth, digital health, and telemedicine, all of which have contributed to the enhancement of diabetes care.
In the hope of expanding CGM availability, we’ve also provided additional evidence in support of their use.
The guidelines state that insurance companies often fail to keep up with the rising costs of diabetes care, making it difficult for people to receive the treatment they need.
A new pharmacological or technological advancement “totally transforms how we care for people with diabetes” every few years, Grace said.
Changing things like how much you sleep and how often you work out
The updated recommendations focus on lifestyle factors that are within one’s control, such as sleep and physical activity.
According to the guidelines, those with diabetes who often have trouble sleeping should be sent to a sleep doctor for further evaluation.
Untreated sleep problems, such as sleep apnea, can contribute to high blood pressure and higher blood sugar levels, and yet “sleep is generally under-recognized as a contributor to higher blood sugar and weight gain,” Ahn said.
The recommendations stress the importance of a nutritious diet, regular physical activity, adequate sleep hygiene, emotional health, and the elimination of tobacco use in the management of diabetes.
The guidelines recommend routine patient assessments of health-related behaviours as a means of improving diabetes treatment.
Addressing and resolving racial inequalities
The revised guidelines incorporate innovative approaches to reducing racial disparities in health care delivery.
It is well-established that people of Alaska Native, Black, and Hispanic descent are at a higher risk for developing diabetes and have poorer health outcomes than the general population.
Diabetes treatments, such as insulin, can be costly, which, according to Grace, exacerbates existing health inequities in the United States.
Screening for food insecurity, housing insecurity, financial obstacles, and social support is recommended for vulnerable groups.
Patient care and risk factor management can be enhanced by referring patients to community workers or health coaches.
Conclusion:
This week, new recommendations for improved diabetes care were published by the American Diabetes Association. Medication, new technology, weight management, and modifiable lifestyle factors including sleep and exercise are all addressed in the research. It also contains measures to lessen health disparities in regards to diabetes treatment and results.
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