Reducing risks module

The NHMRC National Evidence Based Guidelines for the Management of Type 2 Diabetes (Case Detection and Diagnosis (2009)¹; Blood Pressure and Control (2004)² Prevention and Detection of Macrovascular Disease (2004)³; Prevention and Detection of Foot Problems (2005)⁴; Lipid Control (2004)⁵ and: Blood Glucose Control (2009)⁶ Kidney Disease (2009)⁷; Patient Education (2009)⁸ identify clinical practice guidelines and targets to manage diabetes related risks and improve health outcomes for people with type 2 diabetes. The clinical targets and screening recommendations are summarized in Diabetes Management in General Practice⁹ and provide the basis for the Annual Cycle of Care and associated Service Incentive Payments paid to general practitioners through Medicare.

People with diabetes who have received diabetes self management education (DSME) have been shown to be significantly more likely than those who have not received DSME to have adopted self care behaviours such as having an annual dilated eye examination, flu and pneumococcal vaccinations, foot checks and glycosylated haemoglobin in the previous year.¹⁰ In addition people with diabetes who have received no diabetes education are four times more likely to develop complications.¹⁰

Diabetes registers and recall systems in primary care practice have been demonstrated to support recommended screening and to result in improved diabetes outcomes.¹¹