ADA Issues New Diabetes Guidelines for 2023

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has released its updated Standards of Care in Diabetes for 2023. The guidelines include a number of new recommendations, including:

• A focus on supporting higher weight loss (up to 15%). The ADA now recommends that people with diabetes aim to lose 5-10% of their body weight, and that some people may benefit from losing even more weight. This is based on the latest research, which shows that even modest weight loss can have a significant impact on blood sugar control and other diabetes complications.
• New recommendations related to sleep health and physical activity. The ADA now recognizes the importance of sleep health and physical activity in managing diabetes. People with diabetes are advised to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep per night, and to engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity each week.
• Broad consideration of social determinants of health in guiding the design and delivery of care. The ADA now emphasizes the importance of considering social determinants of health, such as poverty, food insecurity, and housing instability, when designing and delivering diabetes care. These factors can have a significant impact on a person’s ability to manage their diabetes, and the ADA recommends that healthcare providers work with patients to address these challenges.
• New hypertension diagnosis cut-offs. The ADA has lowered the blood pressure thresholds for diagnosing hypertension in people with diabetes. The new thresholds are 130/80 mmHg for systolic and diastolic blood pressure, respectively. This is because people with diabetes are at increased risk of developing hypertension, and early detection and treatment is important for preventing complications.

The 2023 Standards of Care in Diabetes represent a significant update to the previous guidelines. The new recommendations reflect the latest research and clinical practice guidelines, and they are designed to help people with diabetes achieve better blood sugar control and reduce their risk of complications.

If you have diabetes, it is important to talk to your healthcare provider about the new guidelines. They can help you develop a personalized plan to manage your diabetes and achieve your health goals.

Here are some additional resources for people with diabetes:

• American Diabetes Association: https://www.diabetes.org/
• National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes
• American Association of Diabetes Educators: https://www.diabeteseducator.org/
• International Diabetes Federation: https://www.idf.org/