Keeping you up to date with reliable diabetes research, policy & guidance
There’s lots of interest in how we can use the increasingly ubiquitous telephone to improve diabetes care. It’s important that we apply the same rigorous tests to these interventions as we do to others, and don’t just assume that “new” means “better“. In resource-poor settings this is all the more important, as we have to [read the full story…]
It has been suggested that dairy products might have a preventive effect against type 2 diabetes. However, the results of observational studies looking at the correlation between the consumption of dairy and incidence of type 2 have been inconclusive. A new systematic review set out to combine the evidence from these different studies into an [read the full story…]
People in black and minority ethnic (BME) groups have a higher risk of type 2 diabetes than the population as a whole and often experience difficulty in managing their condition. A recent systematic review looked at their experiences of self-management of type 2. This information will be extremely valuable to those running services for BME [read the full story…]
Vitamin D is suspected of having a role in the development of type 1 diabetes. Previous studies have been small-scale and inconclusive. Now we have a systematic review of the observational evidence about the relationship between consumption of Vitamin D in early life (or during pregnancy) and the risk of developing type 1 diabetes later [read the full story…]
Diabetic neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes. This condition is very painful and substantially compromises quality of life. Its progressive nature places a further burden on patients and their carers. Current guidance recommends a range of possible drug treatments, including the antidepressant drugs amitriptyline or duloxetine and the anti-convulsant pregabalin. A recent Cochrane review [read the full story…]
Clinical question: In type 2 diabetes, does non-surgical treatment of periodontal disease lead to improved glycaemic control? Methods: An updated systematic review of randomised trials. Results: The review concluded there was evidence of a small reduction in HbA1c after treatment for gum disease. However, the studies were of poor quality with some evidence of publication [read the full story…]
Previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses have failed to turn up clear evidence on the benefits and harms of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in children with type 1 diabetes and insulin-using patients with type 2 diabetes. This systematic review set out to update this state of affairs in the light of recent studies. In children with [read the full story…]
Foot care is a cornerstone of diabetes care. However, there is very little evidence about the impact of specialist foot care by podiatrists or chiropodists on the risk of amputation. Current guidance recommends that podiatrists should be part of the multidisciplinary foot care team. However, this recommendation is based on observational studies. For this reason, [read the full story…]
Existing recommendations for exercise in diabetes are based largely on evidence from the general population or from people with type 2 diabetes. This systematic review set out to look specifically at the effect of exercise on glycaemic control among people with type 1 diabetes. Clinical question In people with type 1 diabetes, does exercise improve [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…]
