Embedding guidelines into clinical practice

Type 2 diabetes is a complex, chronic illness requiring continuous medical care with multifactorial risk‐reduction strategies beyond glycaemic control. Cardiovascular and metabolic derangements individually and interdependently lead to a substantial increase in cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. Chronic kidney disease is also associated with increased risks of cardiovascular morbidity, premature mortality and decreased quality of life. Established and evolving treatment strategies including moderate physical activity, weight reduction, rigorous blood pressure control, correction of dyslipidaemia, and glycaemic control have proven beneficial in reversing these abnormal responses and decreasing the cardiovascular risk. Most patients with type 2 diabetes are treated by their primary health care team who need guidance in choosing the best treatment regimens for their patients since the number of glucose‐lowering agents is rapidly increasing, as is the amount of clinical data regarding these drugs. Early intervention models of care improve glycaemic, cardiovascular and patient outcomes. Copyright © 2023 John Wiley & Sons.