Managing problems with medications for type 2 diabetes (2017)

Type of publication:
Journal article

Author(s):
*Morris, David

Citation:
Practice Nursing; Apr 2017; vol. 28 (no. 4); p. 148-152

Abstract:
The most recent National Institue for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and European Association for the Study of Diabetes guidelines on management of type 2 diabetes (NICE, 2015; Inzucchi et al, 2015) emphasise the need to individualise glycemic targets and treatments, and highlight that working in partnership with the person concerned should be central to decision making. In addition to assessing the likely efficacy of a treatment, consideration should be given to tolerability and safety. The possibility of medication problems and side- effects needs to be anticipated and if a medication is chosen then a means for identifying and dealing with these should be considered in advance. Most adverse drug reactions are predictable and dose- dependent, the exception being allergic reactions. This article will consider problems arising with medications used for type 2 diabetes, excluding insulin.