Diabetes

Diabetes - General Practice: The Integrative Approach. Diabetes mellitus is classified into several types: type 1 diabetes, LADA (latent autoimmune diabetes of adulthood) or ‘type 1.5 diabetes’, type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. The role of the general practitioner is in identifying those at risk of diabetes and advising on preventive and early intervention strategies when impaired glucose tolerance, prediabetes or diabetes is identified. Once a diagnosis of diabetes is established, management of diabetes is aimed at secondary prevention strategies through control of blood sugar levels, correction of micronutrient deficiencies and active risk factor management. The long-term effects of diabetes are largely due to its effect on blood vessels leading to both micro and macro vascular disease.