Prevention of diabetes complications

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases
• Clinical Research Methodology

Background:

• Growing understanding of diabetes mellitus and its complications.
• Shift in therapeutic approaches from retrospective analyses to prospective intervention trials.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present updated, aggressive guidelines for diabetes care.
• To reflect the views of the American Diabetes Association and incorporate recent research.

Main Methods:

• Review of basic and clinical research findings.
• Analysis of prospective intervention trials comparing new therapies to standard methods.
• Incorporation of data reflecting the complexity and variability of the diabetic state.

Main Results:

• Development of excellent data supporting aggressive new care guidelines.
• Guidelines reflect current understanding of diabetes and its complications.

Conclusions:

• The term "guidelines" is used to denote flexibility in recommendations.
• Recommendations are subject to modification for special situations and ongoing review by multiple organizations.