The long-term care of non-insulin-dependent diabetes

The long term management of non-insulin-dependent diabetes falls into two categories: first, the supervision of glycaemic control; and second, the detection of complications, risk factors and their management. To aid the former, home/self monitoring is essential. Patients need to record their results so that they can be reviewed by their physician. At the same time, treatment including diet can be modified to improve control and education about diabetes can be continued. An annual screen is required to detect the long term complications of diabetes: retinopathy; nephropathy; macrovascular disease; neuropathy; and diabetic foot disease. The early detection of these complications is important to gain maximal benefit from available treatment. The care of non-insulin-dependent diabetics requires skillful organization and in most health districts represents a considerable workload.