Diabetes Management Update: Individualizing Treatment

Cardiovascular (CV) disease is common in the United States,
with approximately 11% of US adults having been diagnosed
with heart disease and nearly 3% with stroke. Type 2 diabetes
mellitus is an independent risk factor for CV disease, conferring
about a two-fold excess risk for CV disease. Moreover,
in 2016, high fasting plasma glucose was among the top 5 risk
factors contributing to disability-adjusted life-years in the
United States.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After reading this article, primary care providers
will be able to:
• Summarize differences among glucagonlike
peptide-1 receptor agonists and
sodium glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors
regarding cardiovascular safety
and benefits
• Initiate patient-centric pharmacotherapy
in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
and established cardiovascular disease
who are inadequately controlled with
metformin-based therapy consistent
with current recommendations
• Implement simple strategies in clinical
practice to address common unmet
needs and concerns of patients with type
2 diabetes mellitus that impact treatment
adherence and self-management
TARGET AUDIENCE
Family physicians and clinicians who wish
to gain increased knowledge and greater
competency regarding primary care management
of diabetes mellitus.