Targets for glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes

INTRODUCTION

Increasingly, day-to-day management of people with type 2 diabetes falls to general practice nurses (GPNs).¹ It is therefore important that they are familiar with the latest guidelines, and understand how to apply the recommendations to their individual patients. This includes recognising how to determine appropriate targets (for example, for blood glucose control) in each individual case.

This module will help improve awareness of the role of adequate blood glucose control in the prevention of the complications of diabetes

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

On completion of this module, you will be aware of:

• Current targets as recommended in the recent national and international guidelines
• The importance of agreeing targets with individual patients
• When to intensify drug treatment to achieve targets
• When to consider relaxing the target (on a case-by-case basis)
• The importance of good blood glucose control for the prevention of complications.

This module is one of a series of five. Others in the series are:

• Tailoring therapy to the individual patient
• Short-term complications of type 2 diabetes
• Renal considerations in patients with type 2 diabetes
• Cardiovascular considerations in patients with type 2 diabetes

This resource is provided at an intermediate level. Read the article and answer the self-assessment questions, and reflect on what you have learned.

Complete the resource to obtain a certificate to include in your revalidation portfolio. You should record the time spent on this resource in your CPD log.

Reference

1. Royal College of Nursing. Education, prevention and the role of the nurse. (Updated November 2020). https://www.rcn.org.uk/clinical-topics/diabetes/education-prevention-and-the-role-of-the-nurse