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Type 2 Diabetes: More treatment options

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Treatment aim 2 - to reduce other risk factors

You are less likely to develop complications of diabetes if you reduce any other 'risk factors'. These are briefly mentioned below, but are discussed more fully in another leaflet called Preventing Cardiovascular Disease. Everyone should aim to cut out preventable risk factors, but people with diabetes have even more of a reason to do so.

Keep your blood pressure down
Have your blood pressure checked regularly. The combination of high blood pressure and diabetes is a particularly high risk factor. Even mildly raised blood pressure should be treated if you have diabetes. Medication, sometimes with two or even three different drugs, may be needed to keep your blood pressure down. See separate leaflet called 'Diabetes and High Blood Pressure'.

If you smoke - now is the time to stop
Smoking is a high risk factor. See a practice nurse if you have difficulty stopping. If necessary, medication or nicotine replacement therapy (nicotine gum, etc) may help you to stop.

Other medication
You will usually be advised to take a drug to lower your cholesterol level, and to take a daily aspirin. These help to lower the risk of developing some complications such as heart disease, peripheral vascular disease and stroke.

Treatment aim 3 - to detect and treat any complications promptly

Most GP's surgeries and hospitals have special diabetes clinics. Doctors, nurses, dieticians, chiropodists, optometrists, and other health care workers all play a role in giving advice, and checking on progress. Activities in diabetes clinics include:

Checking levels of blood glucose, HbA1c, cholesterol, and blood pressure.
Ongoing advice on diet and lifestyle.
Checking for early signs of complications, for example:

- eye checks - to detect problems with the retina (a possible complication of diabetes) which can often be prevented from getting worse. Glaucoma is also more common in people with diabetes, and can usually be treated.
- urine tests - which include testing for protein in the urine which may indicate early kidney problems.
- foot checks.
- other blood tests.

It is important to have regular checks as some complications, particularly if detected early, can be treated or prevented from getting worse.