Today, the American Diabetes Association® (ADA) released its much-anticipated annual Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes (Standards of Care). Based upon the latest scientific diabetes research and clinical trials, Standards of Care is the gold-standard for professionals in the medical field and includes vital new and updated practice guidelines to care for people with diabetes and prediabetes.
"We recognize that health care providers around the world look to our Standards of Care for the latest in how new research can impact care and are excited to provide this valuable resource," said Dr. Robert Gabbay, Chief Scientific & Medical Officer at the ADA. "The evidence for the prevention and treatment of diabetes and its complications is constantly evolving and it is crucial we do our best to keep medical professionals informed on best practices and medical advances in the field of diabetes."
Some notable updates and additions to the Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2022 include:
• Guidance on first-line therapy determined by co-morbidities.
• Screening for prediabetes and diabetes beginning at age 35 for all people.
• Changes to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) recommendations regarding when to test and in whom testing should be done.
• Updated recommendations on technology selection based on individual and caregiver considerations, ongoing education on use of devices, continued access to devices across payers, support of students using devices in school settings, use of telehealth visits, and early initiation of technology.
The Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2022 provides the latest in comprehensive, evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of youth and adults with type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes; strategies for the prevention or delay of type 2 diabetes and associated comorbidities; and therapeutic approaches that can reduce complications, mitigate cardiovascular and renal risk, and improve health outcomes.
The 2022 Standards of Care is now live online in Diabetes Care® and is published as a supplement to the January 2022 issue of Diabetes Care.
Other notable changes include more information on managing nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in conjunction with diabetes, the role of health numeracy in diabetes prevention and management, cognitive impairment and diabetes, and COVID-19 updates based on evolving evidence.
Updates to the Standards of Care are established and revised by the ADA's Professional Practice Committee (PPC). The committee is a multidisciplinary team of 16 leading U.S. experts in the field of diabetes care and includes physicians, diabetes care and education specialists, registered dietitians, and others with experience in adult and pediatric endocrinology, epidemiology, public health, cardiovascular risk management, microvascular complications, preconception and pregnancy care, weight management, diabetes prevention, and use of technology in diabetes management.
Two designated representatives of the American College of Cardiology (ACC) reviewed and provided feedback on the "Cardiovascular Disease and Risk Management" section, and this section received endorsement from ACC for the fourth consecutive year. "In the same way that successful diabetes care requires a multidisciplinary approach, the Professional Practice Committee harnesses the experiences of various specialized providers from a multitude of settings to produce clinical practice recommendations that are intended for all types health care professionals," said Boris Draznin, MD, PhD, Chair of the Professional Practice Committee. Two designated ADA reviewers provided feedback for the full guidelines.
The online version of the Standards of Care will continue to be annotated in real-time with necessary updates if new evidence or regulatory changes merit immediate incorporation through the living Standards of Care process. The ADA also publishes condensed guidelines, known as the Abridged Standards of Care, yearly for primary care providers in its journal, Clinical Diabetes®, and offers a convenient Standards of Care app as well as a Standards of Care pocket chart. Other Standards of Care resources, including a webcast with continuing education credit and a full slide deck, can be found on ADA’s professional website, DiabetesPro®.
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,About Diabetes Care
Diabetes Care, a monthly journal of the ADA, is the highest-ranked, peer-reviewed journal in the field of diabetes treatment and prevention. Dedicated to increasing knowledge, stimulating research, and promoting better health care for people with diabetes, the journal publishes original articles on human studies in clinical care, education and nutrition; epidemiology, health services and psychosocial research; emerging treatments and technologies; and pathophysiology and complications. Diabetes Care also publishes the ADA’s recommendations and statements, clinically relevant review articles, editorials and commentaries. Topics covered are of interest to clinically oriented physicians, researchers, epidemiologists, psychologists, diabetes care and education specialists, and other health care professionals.
About the American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization fighting to bend the curve on the diabetes epidemic and help people living with diabetes thrive. For 81 years the ADA has driven discovery and research to treat, manage, and prevent diabetes while working relentlessly for a cure. Through advocacy, program development, and education we aim to improve the quality of life for the nearly 122 million Americans living with diabetes or prediabetes. Diabetes has brought us together. What we do next will make us Connected for Life. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383). Join the fight with us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Spanish Facebook (Asociación Americana de la Diabetes), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn).