Update on the Canadian Diabetes Association 2008 clinical practice guidelines.

Abstract

Rates of diabetes are increasing in Canada,1 and family physicians remain the main point of primary care for people with diabetes.2 The challenge for physicians in this context is to design realistic treatment plans and negotiate priorities to maximize health benefits for these patients. This article summarizes recommendations from the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA) 2008 clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). The guidelines are available on-line at www.diabetes.ca/for-professionals/resources/2008-cpg/. This review covers the care of adults with type 2 diabetes and gives particular attention to new recommendations. To assist with readability, grading and evidence levels have been simplified to single letters (eg, grade A recommendation = [A]). Table 1 summarizes the grading system used by the CDA. Table 1 Criteria for assigning levels of evidence and grades to recommendations for clinical practice