People with type 2 diabetes 'should be involved in decisions about care'

People with type 2 diabetes should have an active role in discussions about the care they receive.

This is according to new guidelines released by the National Institute for Healthcare and Excellence (NICE), which calls for treatment of the condition to become more individualised.

The organisation calls for healthcare professionals to take into account a range of factors when caring for someone with this form of diabetes. These include the individual's personal preferences, any other conditions they may be suffering from, the risk of using more than four medications and the patient's ability to benefit from long-term interventions because of reduced life expectancy.

Dr Ian Lewin, NICE guideline developer and a retired consultant endocrinologist, stated: “The guideline highlights that putting people with type 2 diabetes at the centre of their care package is essential."

This form of diabetes tends to occur in people aged over 40, but is becoming more common in younger individuals due to obesity. 

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