NICE updates type 2 guidelines to reflect new advice on drug treatments

The National Institute of Care and Excellence (NICE) has updated its guidelines about drug treatments for people with type 2 diabetes.
This new update features information about sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors, which “may be appropriate for some adults with type 2 diabetes if metformin is contraindicated or not tolerated”.
NICE has also updated its algorithm for blood glucose-lowering therapy in adults with type 2 diabetes. The algorithm now states that an SGLT2 inhibitor in combination with insulin with or without other anti-diabetic drugs is an option for treatment.
NICE said the type 2 diabetes guidelines were revised because of the “availability of new evidence and several key developments” regarding drug treatments.
Information has also been added following safety concerns over a number of drugs used to treat type 2 diabetes.
These concerns followed “new evidence on new dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP 4) inhibitors and glucagon like peptide 1 (GLP 1) receptor agonists, new indications and licensed combinations for licensed class members and the potential impact of drugs coming off patent on health economic issues”.
This new evidence has prompted updates in the following areas: managing blood glucose levels, antiplatelet therapy and erectile dysfunction.
Regarding antiplatelet therapy, which helps to prevent arterial clots, NICE has updated its warning on safety issues to the off label use of antiplatelet therapy (aspirin and clopidogrel).
The new advice also covers the care and management of type 2 diabetes in adults. It focuses on patient education, dietary advice, managing cardiovascular risk, managing blood glucose levels, and identifying and managing long-term complications.
Having been founded in 1999 to help reduce varied care and treatment across the NHS, NICE has periodically updated its guidelines for people with diabetes to help healthcare professionals administer the best possible treatments for patients.