• Clinical Guidance

    Diabetes Clinical Guidance

    Diabetes: Clinical Guidance and Practice Resources

    More than 34 million people in the U.S. have diabetes by current clinical standards. One-fifth haven't been diagnosed.* Diabetes-related complications not only create health challenges for patients, they take an economic toll. In the U.S., its estimated the total costs associated with diabetes management and treatment, and lost productivity, exceeds $320 billion annually.**

    As the leader of a patient’s care team, you're instrumental in identifying early interventions to effectively manage and treat the disease. You also need resources to help patients prevent diabetes. Strategies will often depend on patient symptoms, age, and comorbidities, in addition to social determinants of health. Access to nutritional food and safe spaces to exercise are major factors in preventing and slowing disease progression.

    Effective care coordination ensures patient-centered and high-quality care. 

    Treatment and Management Recommendations

    ACP Guideline: Oral pharmacologic treatment of diabetes
    (Endorsed by the AAFP)

    Guiding Principles for the Care of People With or At-Risk of Diabetes (Supported by the AAFP) 

    Managing Your Practice

    Coding & Payment: How to Support Chronic Care Management Services  

    Coordinated Care and Care Management Tools and Resources

    Annual Wellness Visit

    Quality Measures: Identify Opportunities to Improve Patient Care

    The AAFP in conjunction with the Core Quality Measure Collaborative promotes measure harmonization across programs and payers. Listed here are the measures currently selected to evaluate diabetes. 

    Diabetes Quality Measures
    0059 Comprehensive Diabetes Care: HbA1c Poor Control (>9.0%) National Committee for Quality Assurance *eCQM version available; Telehealth eligible
    0055 Comprehensive Diabetes Care: Eye Exam National Committee for Quality Assurance *eCQM version available; Telehealth eligible
    0057 Comprehensive Diabetes Care: Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1C) testing+ National Committee for Quality Assurance  
    0062 Comprehensive Diabetes Care: Medical Attention for Nephropathy National Committee for Quality Assurance *eCQM version available; Telehealth eligible
           

    Implementation Tools and Considerations

    Consensus Report: Diabetes Self-management Education and Support in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes

    AAFP TIPS CGM: Enhancing Diabetes Care, Workflows, Education,
    and Payment

    Master CGM for diabetes care by learning to identify eligible patients, communicate benefits, and implement strategies for patient-centered management. 4.25 AAFP Prescribed credits; Free.

     

    New Clinical Recommendation: Screening for Diabetes in Adults

    Developed by the AAFP and approved in November 2021

    Education

    Clinican Education                                                                

    Continuing Medical Education
    View applicable courses in:
    AAFP CME Endocrinology                   
    AAFP CME Cardiometabolic Conditions                                                                  

    AFP Journal
    Diabetes Topic Module

    Other Related Resources


    *Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2020. Atlanta, GA: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services; 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pdfs/data/statistics/national-diabetes-statistics-report.pdf  Accessed October 5, 2021.

    **Dall TM, Yang W, Halder P, et al. The economic burden of elevated blood glucose levels in 2012: diagnosed and undiagnosed diabetes, gestational diabetes mellitus, and prediabetes. Diabetes Care. 2014;37(12):3172-3179.