Keeping you up to date with reliable diabetes research, policy & guidance
Maternal diabetes can be a cause of congenital malformations and death in infants. Diabetic mothers planning pregnancy need to be able to minimise these risks through good information, advice and care. What forms of care are most effective? This systematic review set out to examine the evidence on giving specific pre-pregnancy care (PPC) in preventing [read the full story...]
People with diabetes often experience stigma in association with the disease. However, this is an under-researched area compared with stigma associated with other conditions. Therefore this narrative review is particularly welcome. The review encompasses stigma enacted by others, stigma that is perceived by people with diabetes, and internalized stigma or “self-stigma”. Causes of stigma Often, [read the full story...]
The Diabetes Elf once overheard a respected senior colleague: “The only treatments that don’t have any side-effects are the ones that don’t work.” So it turned out with statins, which were recently found to have increased the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The questions, of course, is “Are the benefits worth the harms?” In [read the full story...]
Non-healing leg ulcers are a major burden for people with diabetes and for the health service. This evidence review by the US Department of Veterans’ Affairs focuses on treatments approved by the US Food and Drug Administration but contains important findings that could be applicable in any setting. Clinical question The review addresses the following [read the full story...]
NHS Evidence is a service provided by NICE, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. As part of this service, they publish regular updates of recent evidence that fits under the main sections of NICE guidance. In March, NHS Evidence produced an Evidence Update on Diabetic Foot Problems. This is the first Evidence Update [read the full story...]
Recent evidence has shown that statins can increase the incidence of new-onset diabetes, leading to an official warning by the FDA. This has huge implications for practice, as these drugs are widely used to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in patients with and without diabetes. Selecting the right treatment and balancing the proven benefits [read the full story...]
Kidney disease is one of the most serious complications of diabetes. Reducing its incidence can greatly enhance survival, quality of life and reduce costs of care. Keeping blood pressure under control is essential to this effort. NICE guidance recommends ACE inhibitors as a first-line therapy for patients with diabetes and high blood pressure. However, a [read the full story...]
When we are looking to change our behaviour, we often turn to cognitive behavioural therapy, or CBT. It has been proven effective in a number of settings, such as the management of pain or treatment of depression or schizophrenia. Could CBT help people with diabetes to improve their health? Clinical question: In people with diabetes, [read the full story...]
What are the benefits of insulin pumps compared with multiple daily injections of insulin? This report by the US Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research summarises what the evidence says. Clinical question: In diabetics using insulin, does continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII), compared with multiple daily injections (MDI), improve quality of life or glycaemic control? The [read the full story...]
Physical exercise is beneficial to everyone, with or without diabetes. But how much actual benefit accrues from it? A recent paper measured the association between physical activity and mortality in diabetes. Clinical question: In people with diabetes, does physical activity reduce the risk of premature death? The evidence This paper reports the findings of a [read the full story...]
