The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Recommends Tighter Control of Blood Glucose Levels After Meals in People With Diabetes

The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Recommends Tighter Control of Blood Glucose Levels After Meals in People With Diabetes

September 19, 2007

- IDF Launches New Guideline for the Management of Postmeal
Glucose

    AMSTERDAM, Netherlands, Sept. 19 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ --
IDF today issued the new global guideline for diabetes care
which includes the management of postmeal glucose.(1)  The
guideline emphasizes that people with diabetes should have
their blood glucose levels closely monitored after meals in
order to optimize diabetes control and reduce the risk of
complications, particularly cardiovascular disease.(2) 
This new approach will assist clinicians and organizations
in developing effective strategies for managing diabetes. 
The new evidence-based global guideline was unveiled at the
meeting of the European Association for the Study of
Diabetes (EASD) in Amsterdam.

    The new guideline offers a series of recommendations
identifying how diabetes care could be optimised.  Topics
addressed in the new guideline are
postmeal hyperglycaemia, treatment strategies and regimens,
self monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), and non-
pharmacologic and pharmacologic therapies.

    "Diabetes is now recognized as one of the largest
epidemics humanity has ever faced and a leading cause of
death.  It accounts for 3.8 million deaths per year, many
of which are related to cardiovascular disease.  This new
advancement underscores the importance for people with
diabetes and their healthcare providers to adopt all
possible ways to better manage the disease," said
Professor Stephen Colagiuri, Chair of the IDF Task Force on
Clinical Guidelines.

    Until recently, a key recommendation for good diabetes
management was to lower fasting or premeal blood glucose
levels; however, recent studies suggest a link between
postmeal glucose control and improved outcomes in people
with diabetes.  Existing global guidelines do not include
the management of postmeal glucose.

    In people with normal glucose tolerance, blood glucose
levels are automatically monitored and controlled by the
body.  After eating, the body releases enough insulin to
keep the plasma glucose within a normal range that rarely
rises above 7.8 mmol/l (140 mg/dl) and usually returns to
premeal levels within two to three hours.

    In people with impaired glucose tolerance or diabetes,
their body has little or no automatic control of blood
glucose levels.  After eating, they often experience
extended periods of elevated blood glucose levels.  This is
due to a number of factors, including insufficient insulin
secretion, decreased sensitivity to insulin action,
inability to suppress glucose output from the liver and
deficiencies in other hormones related to digestion.

    The new IDF Guideline recommends that people with
diabetes try to keep postmeal blood glucose levels to less
than 7.8 mmol/l (140 mg/dl) two hours following a meal, a
time frame which conforms to guidelines published by most
of the leading diabetes and medical organizations.

    IDF advises SMBG because it is the most practical
method for measuring
postmeal glucose and it allows people with diabetes to
obtain "real-time" information about their
glucose levels.  This information enables people with
diabetes and their healthcare providers to make timely
adjustments in their treatment regimens to achieve and
maintain their blood glucose levels within target.

    "IDF recommends that people with diabetes include
physical activity, healthy eating and weight control in
their daily regimen," said Professor
Antonio Ceriello, Chair of the Guideline Writing Group. 
"These remain the cornerstone of effective diabetes
management and not only reduce postmeal glucose levels, but
also improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels". 
The guideline also includes information on a number of
medications which specifically target postmeal glucose
levels.

    Note to Editors

    The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is an
umbrella organization of over 200 member associations in
more than 160 countries, advocating for the 250 million
people with diabetes, their families, and their healthcare
providers.  The mission of IDF is to promote diabetes care,
prevention and a cure worldwide.  IDF is an NGO in official
relations with the World Health Organization and associated
with the United Nations Department of Public Information. 
Additional information about IDF is available at
http://www.idf.org.

    References:

    1 Guideline for Management of Postmeal Glucose,
International Diabetes
Federation, 2007

    2 Ceriello A, Postprandial Hyperglycemia and Diabetes
Complications: Is it Time to Treat? Diabetes 2005; 54(1):
1-7


    For more information, please contact:

    International Diabetes Federation (IDF)

     Anne Pierson
     Phone:  [phone]
     Mobile: [phone]
     Email:  [e-mail]

     Kerrita McClaughlyn
     Phone:  [phone]
     Mobile: [phone]
     Email:  [e-mail]

     Website: http://www.idf.org