ATI TEO
MREI N
ATL
T
he American Diabetes Associa- PROMOTING HEALTH AND
tions (ADAs) Standards of Med- REDUCING DISPARITIES IN
ical Care in Diabetes is updated POPULATIONS
and published annually in a supple-
Recommendations
ment to the January issue of Diabetes
Treatment plans should align
Care. The ADAs Professional Practice
with the Chronic Care Model,
Committee, comprised of physicians,
emphasizing productive interac-
diabetes educators, registered dieti-
tions between a prepared proactive
tians, and public health experts, de-
practice team and an informed
velops the Standards. Formerly called
Clinical Practice Recommendations, the activated patient. A
Standards includes the most current When feasible, care systems
evidence-based recommendations for should support team-based care,
diagnosing and treating adults and community involvement, patient
children with all forms of diabetes. registries, and decision support
ADAs grading system uses A, B, C, tools to meet patient needs. B
or E to show the evidence level that Diabetes and Population
supports each recommendation. Health
AClear evidence from well-con- Clinical practice guidelines are key
ducted, generalizable randomized to improving population health;
controlled trials that are ade- however, for optimal outcomes, di-
quately powered abetes care must be individualized
B Supportive evidence from for each patient. Thus, efforts to im-
well-conducted cohort studies prove population health will require
C Supportive evidence from a combination of systems-level and
poorly controlled or uncontrolled patient-level approaches. With such
studies an integrated approach in mind, the
E Expert consensus or clinical ADA highlights the importance of
This is an abridged version of the experience
American Diabetes Association Position
patient-centered care, defined as care
Statement: Standards of Medical Care that is respectful of and responsive to
in Diabetes2017. Diabetes Care This is an abridged version of the individual patient preferences, needs,
2017;40(Suppl. 1):S1S138. current Standards containing the
and values and ensuring that patient
The complete 2017 Standards supplement, evidence-based recommendations
including all supporting references, is values guide all clinical decisions.
most pertinent to primary care. The
available at professional.diabetes.org/
standards. tables and figures have been renum- Care Delivery Systems
DOI: 10.2337/cd16-0067 bered from the original document Despite the many advances in diabe-
to match this version. The complete tes care, 3349% of patients still do
2017 by the American Diabetes Association.
Readers may use this article as long as the work
2017 Standards of Care document, not meet targets for glycemic, blood
is properly cited, the use is educational and not including all supporting references, pressure, or cholesterol control, and
for profit, and the work is not altered. See http://
creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0
is available at professional.diabetes. only 14% meet targets for all three
for details. org/standards. measures while also avoiding smok-
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C L I N I C A L D I A B E T E S 3
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C L I N I C A L D I A B E T E S 7
P O S I T I O N S TAT E M E N T
Nutrition Therapy abetes should engage in 60 min/ diabetes. Yoga and tai chi may
For many individuals with diabe- day or more of moderate or vigor- be included based on individual
tes, the most challenging part of the ous intensity aerobic activity, with preferences to increase flexibility,
treatment plan is determining what vigorous, muscle-strengthening, muscular strength, and balance. C
to eat and following a food plan. and bone-strengthening activities
There is not a one-size-fits-all eating included at least 3 days/week. C Exercise in the Presence
pattern for individuals with diabe- Most adults with with type 1 C or of Specific Long-Term
tes. The Mediterranean diet, Dietary type 2 B diabetes should engage Complications of Diabetes
Approaches to Stop Hypertension in 150 min or more of moder- Retinopathy
(DASH) diet, and plant-based diets ate-to-vigorous intensity activity If proliferative diabetic retinopathy or
are all examples of healthful eating per week, spread over at least 3
severe nonproliferative diabetic reti-
patterns. See Table 5 for specific nu- days/week, with no more than 2
nopathy is present, then vigorous-in-
trition recommendations. consecutive days without activity.
In overweight and obese patients Shorter durations (minimum 75 tensity aerobic or resistance exercise
with type 2 diabetes, modest weight min/week) of vigorous-intensity or may be contraindicated because of the
loss, defined as sustained reduc- interval training may be sufficient risk of triggering vitreous hemorrhage
tion of 5% of initial body weight, for younger and more physically or retinal detachment. Consultation
has been shown to improve glyce- fit individuals. with an ophthalmologist prior to en-
mic control and to reduce the need Adults with type 1 C or type 2 gaging in an intense exercise regimen
for glucose-lowering medications. B diabetes should engage in 23 may be appropriate.
However, sustaining weight loss can sessions/week of resistance exercise Peripheral Neuropathy
be challenging. Weight loss can be on nonconsecutive days.
Decreased pain sensation and a high-
attained with lifestyle programs that All adults, and particularly those
er pain threshold in the extremities
achieve a 500750 kcal/day energy with type 2 diabetes, should
deficit or provide ~1,2001,500 kcal/ decrease the amount of time spent result in an increased risk of skin
day for women and 1,5001,800 in daily sedentary behavior. B breakdown, infection, and Charcot
kcal/day for men, adjusted for the Prolonged sitting should be inter- joint destruction with some forms of
individual's baseline body weight. rupted every 30 min for blood exercise. Therefore, a thorough assess-
glucose benefits, particularly in ment should be done to ensure that
Physical Activity neuropathy does not alter kinesthetic
adults with type 2 diabetes. C
Recommendations Flexibility training and balance or proprioceptive sensation during
Children and adolescents with training are recommended 23 physical activity, particularly in those
type 1 or type 2 diabetes or predi- times/week for older adults with with more severe neuropathy.
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Recommendations
Potentially modifiable
patients might include those with Patient attitude and highly motivated, adherent, less motivated, nonadherent,
a short duration of diabetes, type expected treatment efforts excellent self-care capabilities poor self-care capabilities
Less stringent A1C goals (such FIGURE 1. Depicted are patient and disease factors used to determine optimal
as <8% [64 mmol/mol]) may be A1C targets. Characteristics and predicaments toward the left justify more stringent
appropriate for patients with a efforts to lower A1C; those toward the right suggest less stringent efforts. Adapted
history of severe hypoglycemia, with permission from Inzucchi et al. Diabetes Care 2015;38:140149.
limited life expectancy, advanced
microvascular or macrovascular provided in Table 6. The recommen- to prevent recurrence of hypogly-
complications, extensive comor- dations include blood glucose levels cemia. E
bid conditions, or long-standing that appear to correlate with achieve- Glucagon should be prescribed
diabetes in whom the goal is dif- ment of an A1C of 7% (53 mmol/ for all individuals at increased
ficult to achieve despite DSME, mol). risk of clinically significant hypo-
appropriate glucose monitoring, glycemia, defined as blood glucose
Hypoglycemia
and effective doses of multiple <54 mg/dL (3.0 mmol/L), so it is
The 2017 Standards of Care provides
glucose-lowering agents, including available should it be needed.
a new classification of hypoglycemia.
insulin. B Caregivers, school personnel, or
Recommendations family members of these individ-
The complete 2017 Standards of Individuals at risk for hypogly- uals should know where it is and
Care includes additional goals for cemia should be asked about when and how to administer it.
children and pregnant women. symptomatic and asymptomatic The use of glucagon is indicated
Glycemic control achieved using hypoglycemia at each encounter. for the treatment of hypoglycemia
A1C targets of <7% (53 mmol/mol) C in people unable or unwilling to
has been shown to reduce micro- Glucose (1520 g) is the pre- consume carbohydrates by mouth.
vascular complications of diabetes, ferred treatment for conscious Glucagon administration is not
and, in type 1 diabetes, mortality. individuals with hypoglycemia limited to health care profession-
There is evidence for cardiovascular (glucose alert value of 70 mg/ als. E
benefit of intensive glycemic control dL), although any form of car- Hypoglycemia unawareness or
after long-term follow-up of people bohydrate that contains glucose one or more episodes of severe
treated early in the course of type 1 may be used. Fifteen minutes after hypoglycemia should trigger
and type 2 diabetes, however optimal treatment, if SMBG shows contin- reevaluation of the treatment reg-
A1C targets should be individualized ued hypoglycemia, the treatment imen. E
based on several patient-specific and should be repeated. Once SMBG Insulin-treated patients with
disease-specific factors (Figure 1). returns to normal, the individual hypoglycemia unawareness or an
Recommended glycemic targets are should consume a meal or snack episode of clinically significant
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TABLE 6. Summary of Glycemic Recommendations for Many Nonpregnant Adults With Diabetes
A1C <7.0% (53 mmol/mol)*
Preprandial capillary plasma glucose 80130 mg/dL* (4.47.2 mmol/L)
Peak postprandial capillary plasma glucose
<180 mg/dL* (10.0 mmol/L)
*More or less stringent glycemic goals may be appropriate for individual patients. Goals should be individualized
based on duration of diabetes, age/life expectancy, comorbid conditions, known CVD or advanced microvascular com-
plications, hypoglycemia unawareness, and individual patient considerations.Postprandial glucose may be targeted
if A1C goals are not met despite reaching preprandial glucose goals. Postprandial glucose measurements should be
made 12 h after the beginning of the meal, generally peak levels in patients with diabetes.
hypoglycemia should be advised loss and jointly determine weight loss titioners in medical care settings
to raise their glycemic targets to goals and intervention strategies. with close medical monitoring. To
strictly avoid hypoglycemia for maintain weight loss, such pro-
Diet, Physical Activity, and
at least several weeks to partially grams must incorporate long-term
Behavioral Therapy
reverse hypoglycemia unawareness comprehensive weight mainte-
and reduce the risk of future epi- Recommendations nance counseling. B
sodes. A Diet, physical activity, and behav-
Pharmacotherapy
Ongoing assessment of cogni- ioral therapy designed to achieve
tive function is suggested with >5% weight loss should be pre- Recommendations
increased vigilance for hypoglyce- scribed for overweight and obese When choosing glucose-lowering
mia by the clinician, patient, and patients with type 2 diabetes ready medications for overweight or
to achieve weight loss. A obese patients with type 2 diabe-
caregivers if low cognition and/or
Such interventions should be tes, consider their effect on weight.
declining cognition is found. B
high intensity (16 sessions in E
OBESITY MANAGEMENT FOR 6 months) and focus on diet, Whenever possible, minimize the
THE TREATMENT OF TYPE 2 physical activity, and behavioral medications for comorbid con-
DIABETES strategies to achieve a 500750 ditions that are associated with
Obesity management can delay pro- kcal/day energy deficit. A weight gain. E
gression from prediabetes to type 2 Diets should be individualized; Weight loss medications may
diabetes and may be beneficial in the eating patterns that provide the be effective as adjuncts to diet,
treatment of type 2 diabetes. In over- same caloric restriction but differ physical activity, and behavioral
weight and obese patients with type 2 in protein, carbohydrate, and fat counseling for selected patients
diabetes, modest and sustained weight content are equally effective in with type 2 diabetes and a BMI
achieving weight loss. A 27 kg/m2. Potential benefits must
loss has been shown to improve gly-
For patients who achieve short- be weighed against the potential
cemic control and to reduce the need
term weight loss goals, long-term risks of the medications. A
for glucose-lowering medications. (1-year) comprehensive weight If a patients response to weight
Assessment maintenance programs should be loss medications is <5% weight
prescribed. Such programs should loss after 3 months or if there are
Recommendation provide at least monthly contact any safety or tolerability issues at
At each patient encounter, BMI and encourage ongoing moni- any time, the medication should
should be calculated and docu- toring of body weight (weekly be discontinued and alterna-
mented in the medical record. B or more frequently), continued tive medications or treatment
consumption of a reduced-calorie approaches should be considered.
In Asian Americans, the BMI diet, and participation in high lev- A
cutoff points to define overweight els of physical activity (200300
and obesity are lower than in other Metabolic Surgery
min/week). A
populations. To achieve weight loss of >5%, Recommendations
Providers should advise over- short-term (3-month) high-inten- Metabolic surgery should be rec-
weight and obese patients that higher sity lifestyle interventions that use ommended to treat type 2 diabetes
BMIs increase the risk of CVD and very-low-calorie diets (800 kcal/ in appropriate surgical candidates
all-cause mortality. day) or total meal replacements with a BMI 40 kg/m 2 (BMI
Providers should assess each may be prescribed for carefully 37.5 kg/m2 in Asian Americans)
patients readiness to achieve weight selected patients by trained prac- regardless of the level of glycemic
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A1C is greater than or equal to 10%, blood glucose is greater than or equal to 300 mg/dl,
or patient is markedly symptomatic, consider Combination Injectable Therapy (See Figure 8.2).
If A1C target not achieved after approximately 3 months of dual therapy, proceed to 3-drug combination (order not
meant to denote any specific preference choice dependent on a variety of patient- & disease-specific factors):
TZD SU SU SU SU TZD
If A1C target not achieved after approximately 3 months of triple therapy and patient (1) on oral combination, move to
basal insulin or GLP-1 RA, (2) on GLP-1 RA, add basal insulin or (3) on optimally titrated basal insulin, add GLP-1 RA or
mealtime insulin. Metformin therapy should be maintained, while other oral agents may be discontinued on an individual
basis to avoid unnecessarily complex or costly regimens (i.e. adding a fourth antihyperglycemic agent).
coronary disease, and albuminuria. Blood pressure should be mea- mmHg, may be appropriate for
Large benefits are seen when multiple sured at every routine visit. individuals at high risk of CVD
risk factors are addressed simultane- Patients found to have elevated if they can be achieved without
ously. There is evidence that measures blood pressure should have blood undue treatment burden. C
of 10-year coronary heart disease risk pressure confirmed on a separate Patients with confirmed office-
day. B based blood pressure >140/90
among U.S. adults with diabetes have
Most patients with diabetes and mmHg should, in addition to
improved significantly over the past hypertension should be treated to lifestyle therapy, have prompt
decade and that ASCVD morbidity a systolic blood pressure goal of initiation and timely titration of
and mortality have decreased. <140 mmHg and a diastolic blood pharmacologic therapy to achieve
Blood Pressure Control pressure goal of 90 mmHg. A blood pressure goals. A
Lower systolic and diastolic blood Patients with confirmed office-
Recommendations pressure targets, such as 130/80 based blood pressure >160/100
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TABLE 7. Recommendations for Statin and Combination Treatment in People With Diabetes
Age (years) Risk Factors Recommended Statin Intensity*
<40 None None
ASCVD risk factor(s)** Moderate or high
ASCVD High
4075 None Moderate
ASCVD risk factors High
ASCVD High
ACS and LDL cholesterol 50 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/L) Moderate plus ezetimibe
or in patients with a history of ASCVD who cannot
tolerate high-dose statins
>75 None Moderate
ASCVD risk factors Moderate or high
ASCVD High
ACS and LDL cholesterol 50 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/L) Moderate plus ezetimibe
or in patients with a history of ASCVD who cannot
tolerate high-dose statins
*In addition to lifestyle therapy.
**ASCVD risk factors include LDL cholesterol 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L), high blood pressure, smoking, chronic kidney
disease, albuminuria, and family history of premature ASCVD.
HDL cholesterol level 34 mg/dL mg/day) as a primary preven- In patients with symptomatic
(0.9 mmol/L). B tion strategy in those with type heart failure, thiazolidinedione
Combination therapy (statin/nia- 1 or type 2 diabetes who are at treatment should not be used. A
cin) has not been shown to provide increased cardiovascular risk. This In patients with type 2 diabetes
additional cardiovascular benefit includes most men or women with with stable congestive heart fail-
above statin therapy alone and diabetes aged 50 years who have ure, metformin may be used if
may increase the risk of stroke and at least one additional major risk eGFR remains >30 mL/min but
is not generally recommended. A factor (family history of premature should be avoided in unstable or
ASCVD, hypertension, smoking,
Table 7 provides recommendations hospitalized patients with conges-
dyslipidemia, or albuminuria) and
for statin and combination therapy tive heart failure. B
are not at increased risk of bleed-
in people with diabetes. Table 8 out- ing. C MICROVASCULAR
lines high- and moderate-intensity COMPLICATIONS AND FOOT
statin therapy. Coronary Heart Disease
CARE
Antiplatelet Agents Recommendations Intensive diabetes management with
In asymptomatic patients, routine the goal of achieving near-normogly-
Recommendations screening for coronary artery dis- cemia has been shown in large, pro-
Use aspirin therapy (75162 mg/ ease is not recommended because spective, randomized studies to delay
day) as a secondary prevention it does not improve outcomes as
strategy in those with diabetes and the onset and progression of micro-
long as ASCVD risk factors are
a history of ASCVD. A vascular complications.
treated. A
For patients with ASCVD and In patients with known ASCVD, Diabetic Kidney Disease
documented aspirin allergy, use aspirin and statin therapy (if
clopidogrel (75 mg/day) should not contraindicated) A, and con- Recommendations
be used. B sider ACE inhibitor therapy C to At least once a year, assess uri-
Dual antiplatelet therapy is rea- reduce the risk of cardiovascular nary albumin (e.g., spot UACR)
sonable for up to 1 year after an events. and eGFR in patients with type
acute coronary syndrome and may In patients with prior myocardial 1 diabetes with a duration of 5
have benefits beyond this period. infarction, -blockers should be years, in all patients with type 2
B continued for at least 2 years after diabetes, and in all patients with
Consider aspirin therapy (75162 the event. B comorbid hypertension. B
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TABLE 10. Framework for Considering Treatment Goals for Glycemia, Blood Pressure, and Dyslipidemia in Older Adults
With Diabetes
Patient Rationale Reasonable A1C Fasting or Bedtime Glucose Blood Pressure Lipids
Characteristics/ Goal Preprandial (mg/dL [mmol/L]) (mmHg)
Health Status Glucose
(% [mmol/mol])
Clinical Diabetes Papers In Press, published online December 15, 2016
(mg/dL [mmol/L])
Healthy (few coexisting Longer remaining life <7.5 (58) 90130 (5.07.2) 90150 (5.08.3) <140/90 Statin unless con-
chronic illnesses, intact expectancy traindicated or not
cognitive and function- tolerated
al status)
Complex/intermediate Intermediate remain- <8.0 (64) 90150 (5.08.3) 100180 (5.610.0) <140/90 Statin unless con-
(multiple coexisting ing life expectancy, traindicated or not
chronic illnesses* high treatment burden, tolerated
or 2+ instrumental hypoglycemia vulnera-
ADL impairments or bility, fall risk
mild-to-moderate cog-
nitive impairment)
Very complex/ Limited remaining life <8.5 (69) 100180 (5.610.0) 110200 (6.111.1) <150/90 Consider likelihood
poor health (LTC or expectancy makes of benefit with statin
end-stage chronic benefit uncertain (secondary preven-
illnesses** or moder- tion more so than
ate-to-severe cognitive primary)
impairment or 2+ ADL
dependencies)
This represents a consensus framework for considering treatment goals for glycemia, blood pressure, and dyslipidemia in older adults with diabetes. The patient
characteristic categories are general concepts. Not every patient will clearly fall into a particular category. Consideration of patient and caregiver preferences is
an important aspect of treatment individualization. Additionally, a patients health status and preferences may change over time. ADL, activities of daily living.
A lower A1C goal may be set for an individual if achievable without recurrent or severe hypoglycemia or undue treatment burden.
*Coexisting chronic illnesses are conditions serious enough to require medications or lifestyle management and may include arthritis, cancer, congestive heart
failure, depression, emphysema, falls, hypertension, incontinence, stage 3 or worse CKD, myocardial infarction, and stroke. By multiple, we mean at least three,
but many patients may have five or more.
**The presence of a single end-stage chronic illness, such as stage 34 congestive heart failure or oxygen-dependent lung disease, CKD requiring dialysis, or
uncontrolled metastatic cancer, may cause significant symptoms or impairment of functional status and significantly reduce life expectancy.
A1C of 8.5% (69 mmol/mol) equates to an estimated average glucose of ~200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L). Looser A1C targets >8.5% (69 mmol/mol) are not rec-
ommended because they may expose patients to more frequent higher glucose values and the acute risks from glycosuria, dehydration, hyperglycemic
hyperosmolar syndrome, and poor wound healing.
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