Lifestyle management is a fundamental aspect of diabetes care and includes:
- diabetes self-management education and support
- weight management intervention and support
- nutritional advice
- physical activity
- smoking cessation counselling and
- psychosocial care
Weight loss can delay the onset of T2DM32 and can lead to remission.33
Clinicians should help individuals understand the impact excess body weight has on T2DM and medications prescribed. They should discuss prioritising diet and lifestyle interventions at diagnosis and each subsequent review. Individuals may require referral to structured education programmes, diet and lifestyle support and weight management services.
People whose diagnosis is doubtful, or individuals presenting with significant weight loss/osmotic symptoms, should be discussed with the local acute diabetes specialist team.