Brief update on diabetes for general practitioners

Diabetes includes a group of metabolic disorders in which there is hyperglycemia. This can be due to impaired insulin secretion, insulin action or both. Chronic hyperglycemia is associated with serious long-term complications in several organs, especially in the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and blood vessels. In our country this disorder affects 13.8% of the population. There are several types of diabetes although most patients suffer type 2 diabetes. We set out to review the diagnostic process, screening recommendations, prevention strategies, initial assessment upon diagnosis, therapeutic targets regarding both blood glucose levels and the other vascular risk factors while also considering healthy lifestyles and brief references to medications recommended in each section.