The Standards of Medical Care is a document that is published every year in order to offer guidelines for healthcare providers, nurses, specialists, and other experts in the medical industry. Keeping up with the latest updates helps these experts align their care with the latest research and recommendations that are made by authorities and associations. The American Diabetes Association is involved in the process of developing the Standard of Care in Diabetes each year, and they have already published their latest report. We take a closer look at this article.
Why Physicians Need To Keep Up To Date With Diabetes Care Guidelines
Let’s first consider why physicians and other healthcare staff need to ensure they educate themselves on the latest guidelines and changes suggested for diabetes care. It’s important to consider the fact that the healthcare industry is rapidly evolving. New discoveries are being made consistently, which makes it hard for doctors to keep up.
As new drugs, treatments, and discoveries are made, doctors may not always have the latest knowledge to offer better outcomes for patients who have diabetes. This is where the Standard of Care in Diabetes, often referred to as the American Diabetes Association’s SOMC, comes into the picture.
Every year, the American Diabetes Association publishes this document. It is available to both the public, which may include patients with the condition and healthcare professionals. The main purpose of the document is to give those living with diabetes and doctors caring for patients with the disease an opportunity to catch up with the latest news, recommendations, and discoveries.
When physicians ensure they are up to date on the latest data in these reports, they equip themselves with the ability to better care for their patients. By introducing patients to new guidelines, implementing treatment for complications sooner, and considering the use of newer drugs, it’s possible to effectively prevent serious problems in diabetes. This can assist in giving patients a more positive prognosis while also offering more hope to those who are newly diagnosed with the disease.
American Diabetes Association 2023 SOMC Guidelines
The Standard of Care in Diabetes from the American Diabetes Association has been released for 2023 and shares a couple of important data points. In this section, we’re going to take a closer look at the adjustments and new regulations that have been introduced in the document. The main purpose here is to help align education on guidelines between patient and provider.
- Targeting Sleep Health: One important element that was discussed in the 2023 guideline update is new suggestions for sleep health in people with diabetes. It is well known that poor sleep leads to several health-related problems. It does not only make a person feel sleepy and experience brain fog the next day. When someone has chronic insomnia or experiences poor sleep health in general, they may go on to develop obesity, and heart disease, and the risk of type 2 diabetes also increases. In those with existing type 2 diabetes, the risk of complications and uncontrolled blood glucose can also rise.
- Increasing Weight Loss Goals: Several suggestions have been made regarding weight loss in diabetes over the past years. Now, with the latest updates from the American Diabetes Association, even further emphasis is placed on the obesity pandemic that affects the nation. Excess weight can negatively influence diabetes management, yet a large proportion of those with this disease are obese. Aiming for a higher weight loss goal, which has been suggested to now go up to 15%, may help to prevent complications and improve glucose control.
- Continous Glucose Monitoring: The American Diabetes Association has shown its support for continuous glucose monitoring on several occasions. The advancements of these devices are doing wonders for patients who are struggling with diabetes. New guidelines from the ADA recommend that continuous glucose monitors now be used from earlier stages of diabetes management. This can help to provide a better indication of how well the patient’s diabetes is managed and allows for early interventions when there is a risk for complications.
- Updates On Telemedicine: Technology has brought on several new ways in which care can be delivered to the population. This includes the introduction of telemedicine, which reduces the need for consistent trips to a doctor’s office. Further support for telemedicine is highly recommended now, but it is also important for the patient and their provider to have an efficient communication channel.
The ADA has also suggested that high blood pressure now be diagnosed at lower levels due to the potential of turning into heart disease. Patients with diabetes are already at risk of heart disease, and hypertension can further exacerbate this risk. In terms of heart disease, the ADA also recommends using SGLT2 inhibitors for a wider range of patients who show signs of heart failure.
Further comments have also been made on the role that finerenone plays in people who have diabetes. Additionally, this particular topic was discussed in relation to chronic kidney disease as well.
As an effort to further reduce heart-related risks, the latest guidelines also now suggest that providers aim for a lower lipid target, with a particular focus on LDL cholesterol. This type of cholesterol can clog the arteries, ultimately leading to blood vessel conditions and heart disease.
It is important to note that the ADA does not make any guidelines lightly. There is consistent research, and all of the suggestions that they make in the report are based on existing evidence. This helps to ensure the accuracy of the suggestions while also limiting the risks to the patients who are being treated for diabetes.
Conclusion
With new recommendations in terms of weight loss in diabetes, a higher emphasis on physical activity, and the introduction of new drugs, it is important for physicians to keep up with the Standards of Care. The decisions made by these associations are of critical importance when it comes to improving care and preventing diabetes complications. The guidance in this post serves as a quick review of the latest changes to guidelines and standards of care.