The American Diabetes Association standards of care - 2023 guidelines provide recommendations for healthcare providers regarding cardiovascular disease (CVD) and risk management in people with diabetes. The authors highlight that atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and heart failure (HF) are leading causes of morbidity and mortality for people with diabetes, noting that simultaneously addressing cardiovascular (CV) risk factors can confer large benefits in patient outcomes. 

 For prevention and management of ASCVD and HF in people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, the guidelines recommend that CV risk factors including hypertension and dyslipidaemia are assessed at least annually. Blood pressure should be measured at each routine clinical visit and all people with hypertension and diabetes should monitor their blood pressure at home as part of ongoing assessment of anti-hypertensive treatment. The authors also highlight the benefits of at-home blood pressure monitoring to confirm or negate a diagnosis, to identify white coat or masked hypertension and in improving medication adherence. In these updated guidelines, blood pressure treatment goals are revised to a target of <130/80 mmHg in people with diabetes. A lipid profile (total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and triglycerides) should be obtained upon diagnosis of diabetes and at least every five years for people aged <40 years and always before initiating statins. 

 In summarising the clinical approach, the authors highlight the importance of CV risk monitoring and cardioprotective treatment for CV risk reduction in people with diabetes with, or at high risk of ASCVD or HF, even if additional glucose lowering is required.  

 The full publication can be accessed here. 

Reference 

ElSayed, et al. American Diabetes Association. 10. Cardiovascular disease and risk management: standards of care in diabetes - 2023. Diabetes Care. 2023;46(Suppl. 1):S158-S190 

© 2023 Abbott. All rights reserved. All trademarks referenced are trademarks of either the Abbott group of companies or their respective owners. COL-20364 06/2023