Michelle Clapham

Despite recent Government initiatives to reduce rates, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes is expected to continue rising to almost 10% of the population by 2035. Complications of type 2 diabetes, such as cardiovascular disease (CVD), contribute to approximately 22 000 deaths annually in England, indicating a need for population health management through preventative healthcare. The Making Every Contact Count (MECC) initiative recommends the building of preventative strategies into routine primary care appointments to reduce modifiable risk factors associated with both type 2 diabetes and CVD. This article explores the unique opportunities general practice nurses have to promote primary and secondary prevention of CVD.

Citation: Clapham M (2024) Challenges and opportunities in reducing risk of diabetes-related cardiovascular disease: Making Every Contact Count . Diabetes & Primary Care 26: [Early view publication]

Key words

– Cardiovascular disease

– Making Every Contact Count

– Service delivery

– Type 2 diabetes prevention

Author

Michelle Clapham, Lecturer in Adult Nursing, University of Plymouth.

James Morris, David Morris

Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA) is a slowly progressing form of autoimmune diabetes with antibodies directed against the pancreatic beta-cells. It typically presents in people over the age of 30 years and has a clinical and biochemical picture intermediate between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Because there is no immediate requirement for insulin, it is often initially misdiagnosed as type 2 diabetes. This case report of a younger adult with an uncertain diagnosis of type 2 diabetes illustrates the characteristics and clinical implications of LADA, its differential diagnosis and its possible management strategies.

Authors

James Morris, GPST3, Priory

View Medical Centre, Leeds, and GPST Visiting Lecturer, University of Leeds; David Morris, Retired GP and Specialist Doctor in Diabetes, Undergraduate Clinical Tutor, Keele University.

Citation: Morris J, Morris D (2024) Case report: LADA – assessing diabetes in a non-overweight younger person. Diabetes & Primary Care 26: [Early view publication]

Case presentation

      Susan, a 39-year-old lady with a two-year history of type 2 diabetes, attended general practice reporting symptoms of thirst, increased micturition, lethargy and abdominal discomfort. She reported a weight loss of 2 kg over the last year.

      Initial management of Susan’s diabetes had focused on lifestyle adjustment and treatment with metformin, which had been titrated up to a dose of 1000 mg twice daily. While this strategy initially improved glycaemic control, Susan’s HbA1c levels continued to fluctuate, running as high as 75 mmol/mol, despite careful diet, regular exercise and taking her medication as prescribed. As a result, sitagliptin (subsequently stopped because of pruritus) and more recently empagliflozin were added to Susan’s regimen.

      Susan, a car driver, had declined gliclazide, wishing to avoid the risk of hypoglycaemia. Susan was up to date with her diabetes foot checks and retinal screening, and there were no diabetes complications.

Latest results (2 months previously):

HbA1c 63 mmol/mol (7.9%); total cholesterol 4.7 mmol/L; non-HDL cholesterol 3.8 mmol/L; Hb 135 g/L; eGFR >90 mL/min/1.73 m2 ; urinary ACR <3 mg/mmol.

Past medical history: Gestational diabetes.

Medication: Metformin 1000 mg twice daily; empagliflozin 25 mg once daily.

Social history: Secretary; ex-smoker; alcohol only

Family history: Mother and first cousin with type 1 diabetes.

Examination: BMI 24.1 kg/m2 ; blood pressure 125/72 mmHg. Cardiovascular and respiratory systems unremarkable. Abdomen: no significant

Investigations: Dipstick urine: glucose +++, nil else. Fingerprick glucose: 12.3 mmol/L. Blood ketones: not significant.

What is your clinical assessment of the situation?

What further investigations would you consider?

Claire Davies

Questions by:

Pam Brown, GP, Swansea

Jane Diggle, Specialist Diabetes Nurse

Practitioner, West Yorkshire

Citation: Davies C (2024) Q&A: Lipid management – Part 2: Use of statins. Diabetes & Primary Care 26: 91–5

Author

Claire Davies, Diabetes and Endocrinology Specialist Pharmacist, Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust.

Claire Davies, Patrick Wainwright

Questions by:

Pam Brown, GP, Swansea

Jane Diggle, Specialist Diabetes Nurse Practitioner, West Yorkshire

Citation: Davies C, Wainwright P (2024) Q&A: Lipid management – Part 1: Measuring lipids and lipid targets. Diabetes & Primary Care 26: 85–9

Acknowledgement

This Q&A was originally authored by Patrick Wainwright in 2022. Claire Davies has revised the answers in response to updated NICE recommendations published in December 2023.

Authors

Claire Davies Endocrinology Specialist , Diabetes and Pharmacist, Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust; Patrick Wainwright, Consultant in Chemical Pathology and Metabolic Medicine, Betsi Cadwaladr UHB, North Wales.