Table 2 Specialities for inter-professional, multidisciplinary team-based type 2 diabetes care for a comprehensive multifactorial risk-reduction strategy in the context of cardiovascular comorbidity
Speciality | Key functions and areas of responsibility |
|---|---|
Diabetologist/endocrinologist | Therapy induction including patient education: explanation of therapy choice, side-effects, complications, acute emergencies Sets BP, lipid, HbA1c targets Trained in cardiology/nephrology/internal medicine |
Internist | Follow-up care, including monitoring of BP, lipid targets and controls, ECG, echocardiagram imaging Trained in diabetology (patients with diabetes who are complicated to treat should always be referred to diabetologists/endocrinologists) |
Nephrologist | Renal function, ACR, BP control Lipid targets |
Cardiologist | Essential for CVD and CV risk management Trained in diabetology |
Nutritionist/dietician | Dietary counselling at therapy induction A key figure in patient education together with diabetologist/endocrinologist Monitoring of glucose control and intake, and body weight Individual diet plans for weight reduction if needed, and/or long-term weight maintenance |
Nurses | Education programmes Individual support BMI monitoring |
Certified diabetes educator | Smoking cessation Diabetes education at treatment induction and for re-enforcement Education programmes, team work Consistent and structured education that is crucial for adherence, motivation and minimising barriers to treatment |