New Guidelines Launched by CTORONTO -- September 18, 2008 -- The
Canadian Diabetes Association has released new clinical practice
guidelines to emphasise the importance of early identification of risk
factors in the prediabetes stage in order to prevent the onset of
diabetes and the aggressive management of those risk factors in order
to prevent the serious complications associated with the disease.
Healthcare professionals are encouraged to
incorporate the guidelines into their daily practice as they offer
strategies to help Canadians with diabetes live longer, healthier lives.
"The Guidelines provide clinicians with
detailed information about how to best manage diabetes, with a large
focus on the prevention and management of the serious complications
associated with diabetes, particularly heart disease," said Gillian
Booth, MD, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, and Expert
Committee for the 2008 Clinical Practice Guidelines, Toronto, Ontario.
"The reality is more and more Canadians
are being faced with diabetes and its complications, which means that
healthcare professionals and people with diabetes need to work closely
together to identify risk factors for diabetes early, and to manage
other risk factors as quickly as possible after diagnosis to reduce the
risk of serious and deadly complications."
The Expert Panel committee responsible for
the development of the Guidelines includes 99 volunteers representing a
broad variety of healthcare professionals from across the country. A
number of new chapters have also been added to the Guidelines, widening
the scope to address emerging research in diabetes-related care.
Cardiovascular Disease
The Guidelines recommend a multifaceted,
comprehensive approach to diabetes management, which includes healthy
meal planning, physical activity, smoking cessation and tight control
of important targets, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood
glucose levels.
Furthermore, the Guidelines now provide
clinicians with more information on how to best screen people with
diabetes for cardiovascular risk. Research has proven that the risk of
heart disease can be reduced by more than 50% through a combination of
lifestyle approaches and medications that protect against
cardiovascular disease.
Prediabetes
The Guidelines define prediabetes as a
fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level of 6.1 to 6.9 mmol/L or presence of
impaired glucose tolerance on a 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test
(OGTT). For those individuals with an FPG level between 5.6 and 6.0
mmol/L and one or more risk factors for diabetes, the Guidelines
recommend performing an OGTT.
Development of type 2 diabetes in patients
with prediabetes can be delayed or prevented with lifestyle changes and
if required, medication.
Select Recommendations
· Early identification and
treatment of risk factors for diabetes-related complications such as
cardiovascular disease, kidney, and eye disease is essential through
proper disease management to avoid serious complications.
· The Guidelines are now
recommending that people with diabetes who are at risk for developing
heart disease be aggressively treated to lower low-density lipoprotein
(LDL) cholesterol to <=2 mmol/L. This lower level, in combination
with strict blood pressure control, is proven to help substantially
reduce heart disease and stroke.
· People with diabetes are
encouraged to perform resistance exercises in addition to moderate to
vigorous aerobic exercises, such as brisk walking.
· Adults with diabetes should
consume no more than 7% of total daily energy from saturated fat and
should limit intake of trans fatty acids to a minimum.anadian Diabetes Association
Canadian Diabetes Association has released new clinical practice
guidelines to emphasise the importance of early identification of risk
factors in the prediabetes stage in order to prevent the onset of
diabetes and the aggressive management of those risk factors in order
to prevent the serious complications associated with the disease.
Healthcare professionals are encouraged to
incorporate the guidelines into their daily practice as they offer
strategies to help Canadians with diabetes live longer, healthier lives.
"The Guidelines provide clinicians with
detailed information about how to best manage diabetes, with a large
focus on the prevention and management of the serious complications
associated with diabetes, particularly heart disease," said Gillian
Booth, MD, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, and Expert
Committee for the 2008 Clinical Practice Guidelines, Toronto, Ontario.
"The reality is more and more Canadians
are being faced with diabetes and its complications, which means that
healthcare professionals and people with diabetes need to work closely
together to identify risk factors for diabetes early, and to manage
other risk factors as quickly as possible after diagnosis to reduce the
risk of serious and deadly complications."
The Expert Panel committee responsible for
the development of the Guidelines includes 99 volunteers representing a
broad variety of healthcare professionals from across the country. A
number of new chapters have also been added to the Guidelines, widening
the scope to address emerging research in diabetes-related care.
Cardiovascular Disease
The Guidelines recommend a multifaceted,
comprehensive approach to diabetes management, which includes healthy
meal planning, physical activity, smoking cessation and tight control
of important targets, such as blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood
glucose levels.
Furthermore, the Guidelines now provide
clinicians with more information on how to best screen people with
diabetes for cardiovascular risk. Research has proven that the risk of
heart disease can be reduced by more than 50% through a combination of
lifestyle approaches and medications that protect against
cardiovascular disease.
Prediabetes
The Guidelines define prediabetes as a
fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level of 6.1 to 6.9 mmol/L or presence of
impaired glucose tolerance on a 75-gram oral glucose tolerance test
(OGTT). For those individuals with an FPG level between 5.6 and 6.0
mmol/L and one or more risk factors for diabetes, the Guidelines
recommend performing an OGTT.
Development of type 2 diabetes in patients
with prediabetes can be delayed or prevented with lifestyle changes and
if required, medication.
Select Recommendations
· Early identification and
treatment of risk factors for diabetes-related complications such as
cardiovascular disease, kidney, and eye disease is essential through
proper disease management to avoid serious complications.
· The Guidelines are now
recommending that people with diabetes who are at risk for developing
heart disease be aggressively treated to lower low-density lipoprotein
(LDL) cholesterol to <=2 mmol/L. This lower level, in combination
with strict blood pressure control, is proven to help substantially
reduce heart disease and stroke.
· People with diabetes are
encouraged to perform resistance exercises in addition to moderate to
vigorous aerobic exercises, such as brisk walking.
· Adults with diabetes should
consume no more than 7% of total daily energy from saturated fat and
should limit intake of trans fatty acids to a minimum.anadian Diabetes Association
