An approach to implementing international diabetes guidelines

Abstract

Diabetes is a common, costly and ever-increasing health problem, with chronic complications that result in a heavy socioeconomic burden for people with the disease, the health care system and society (International Diabetes Foundation, 2007; Ringborg et al, 2009). Chronic complications, the major cause of morbidity, premature mortality and costs of diabetes, can be significantly reduced by control of blood glucose and associated cardiovascular risk factors (Kelly et al, 2009; Ray et al, 2009). The cost of these treatments is within the range of currently accepted preventative interventions (Gæde et al, 2008). Despite the available evidence, prevention strategies have not been widely incorporated into clinical practice and the care received by many people with diabetes is less than optimal worldwide (Chan et al, 2009).