Individualized Therapy Goals For Diabetes

Treatment of patients with diabetes follows individual therapeutic goals. Primary goals include maintenance or restoration of quality of life as well as reduction in mortality and morbidity. Quality of life includes factors such as treatment satisfaction, and avoidance of side effects or complex treatment regimes. Consideration of these factors and empowerment can promote therapy adherence. A reduction in morbidity and mortality cannot be achieved by only treating blood glucose levels. To avoid macrovascular sequelae of diabetes, body weight, lipid levels and blood pressure should be taken into account when therapy is planned. Furthermore patient's wishes, relevant concomitant diseases and their impact on life expectancy and age should be included. By taking these factors into consideration, the practitioner can set individual therapeutic goals together with the patient.