The patient with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus

This outline is based on dietary advice, regular exercise, diabetes education (including glucose monitoring) and, if necessary, an oral hypoglycaemic agent or insulin. Precipitating factors such as dietary indiscretions, infections, drugs, thyrotoxicosis and haemochromatosis should be sought, and associated cardiovascular risk factors such as obesity, hyperlipidaemia, hypertension and a history of smoking should receive attention.