Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk – QI&CPD – Category 1

On completing this module, participants will be better able to:

• Review the appreciable cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk and the microvascular complications associated with type 2 diabetes.
• Compare and contrast the recommendations regarding management of type 2 diabetes and associated co-morbidities in:
  • the 2012 National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) guidelines for absolute cardiovascular disease risk
  • other Australian guidelines
  • international guidelines.
• Outline the importance of initiating treatment early in the course of type 2 diabetes with:
  • drugs for effective glycaemic control
  • statins for achievement of all lipid targets
  • blood pressure-lowering medications.
• Define the role of incretin agents in the management of type 2 diabetes, including profiles of patients who benefit most from these medications.
• Describe the central role of hypolipidaemic agents and blood pressure (BP) treatment for CVD risk reduction in patients with type 2 diabetes.
• Individualise management of patients with type 2 diabetes in order to take into account issues such as dosing schedules and medication adherence and assess co-morbidities, so as to prioritise patient safety.