What Are the Different Diabetes Guidelines?

As the name suggests, guidelines are just that, guides for managing diabetes. They tell you and your doctor what the best practices are for managing your diabetes. Following them will help you stay healthy. However, your specific circumstances may call for slight variations. Your doctor will help you set goals and manage your diabetes in the way that is best for you. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and get a second opinion if you aren’t comfortable with your care.

American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) is a professional organization of doctors who specialize in endocrinology. Endocrinologists diagnose and treat diseases and conditions related to hormones. Hormones are chemical messengers that your body uses to control its functions. Diabetes is an endocrine disease because insulin is a hormone.

AACE publishes medical guidelines for preventing, treating and managing diabetes. The guidelines assist your healthcare providers in caring for their diabetic patients. They address the following issues:

• Preventing diabetes

• Diagnosing and classifying diabetes

• Preventing and treating high and low blood sugar

• Using glucose monitoring

• Preventing and treating the complications of diabetes

• Providing diabetes care in the hospital

• Treatment goals and how to reach them

• Managing other common health conditions

American Diabetes Association

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is an association of both healthcare professionals and the general public. The ADA funds research, delivers services to communities, provides information for patients and healthcare professionals, and advocates for diabetes patients.

The ADA Professional Practice Committee also publishes medical guidelines for preventing, treating and managing diabetes.

Do Other Associations Have Guidelines?

There are a wide variety of other national, state and local groups that publish diabetes guidelines. While their focus and content may differ, most of them refer to or are based on either AACE or ADA guidelines. Examples of other groups include:

• American Association of Diabetic Educators (AADE)

• American College of Physicians

• American Dietetic Association

• California Diabetes Program

• Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs

• Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement

• Joslin Diabetes Center

• Michigan Quality Improvement Consortium

• New York State Department of Health

• U.S. Preventive Task Force

• Wisconsin Diabetes Prevention and Control Program