Clinical Practice Guidelines for Diabetes Management

Diabetes is a disease in which blood glucose levels are above normal. Over the years, high blood
glucose damages nerves and blood vessels, which can lead to complications such as heart disease,
stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve damage, gum infections, and peripheral vascular disease.

Impaired Fasting Glucose (IFG), Impaired Glucose Tolerance (IGT), and an A1C of 5.7-6.4% are
included in a category of increased risk for future diabetes (also known as pre-diabetes). This is defined
as blood glucose or A1C levels higher than normal but not high enough to be characterized as diabetes.
People with IFG, IGT, and an increase A1C are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes and have an
increased risk of heart disease and stroke. With modest weight loss and moderate physical activity,
people with pre-diabetes can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes.

A1C testing is an appropriate test for diagnosing diabetes when A1C is greater than or
equal to 6.5%. Diagnosis should be confirmed by a repeat A1C test unless clinical symptoms
and glucose levels over 200 mg/dL are present.

A1C testing may not be reliable due to patient factors which preclude its interpretation (e.g. any
anemia, hemoglobinopathy or abnormal erythrocyte turnover). In this case, previously
recommended diagnostic measures should be used (fasting plasma glucose and 2 hour oral
glucose tolerance test).

American Diabetes Association Criteria for testing for IFG and Diabetes in
asymptomatic adults
1. All adults with a BMI > 25 and have additional risk factors
 Physical inactivity
 First-degree relative with diabetes
 High risk ethnic population: African American, Latino, Native American, Pacific
Islander. (Asian Americans ≥ 23)
 Women who were diagnosed with gestational diabetes;
 Hypertension (>140/90 or on therapy for hypertension)
 HDL <35 and/or triglycerides > 250
 Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome
 IGT or IFG on previous testing or A1C ≥ 5.7%
 Other clinical conditions related to insulin resistance (severe obesity, acanthosis
nigricans)
 History of CVD
2. In the absence of the above criteria, testing for diabetes should begin at age 45.
3. If the results are normal, testing should be repeated in at least a 3 year interval, with
consideration to more frequent testing depending on initial results and risk status.

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Diagnosing Using Fasting Plasma Glucose Levels
Plasma Glucose Diagnosis
Result (mg/dL)
99 and below Normal

100 to 125 Impaired Fasting Glucose - Diagnosis code R73.01

126 and above Diabetes- Diagnosis code E11.9 or E13.9 - (See Addendum for further
classification codes)

Diagnosing Using A1C

Plasma Glucose Diagnosis
Result (mg/dL)
<5.7 Normal

5.7-6.4% Increased Risk for Diabetes (pre-diabetes) - Diagnosis code R73.09 and
R73.9

≥6.5% Diabetes- Diagnosis code E11.9 or E13.9- (See Addendum for further
classification codes)

Diagnosing Using Oral Glucose Tolerance Test

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT) is defined based on the glucose response two hours after a
75 gram glucose load.
Plasma Glucose Diagnosis
Result (mg/dL)
Under 140 Normal glucose tolerance
140 to 199 Impaired Glucose Tolerance-Diagnosis code R73.02

200 and above Diabetes- Diagnosis code E11.9 or E13.9- (See Addendum for further
classification codes)

Diagnosis code R73.09 (Other Abnormal Glucose), abnormal non-fasting glucose, would be
used when the patient had an elevated glucose and was not fasting or when the practitioner is not
certain which pre-diabetes code is appropriate.

Criteria for Diabetes Mellitus

1) Symptoms of diabetes and a casual plasma glucose greater than or equal to 200 mg/dl. Casual
is defined as any time of day without regard to the time since the last meal. The classic
symptoms of diabetes include polyuria, polydipsia, and unexplained weight loss.
2) Fasting plasma glucose greater than or equal to 126 mg/dl. Fasting is defined as no caloric
intake for at least eight hours. To fit criteria for formal diagnosis of diabetes, the elevated

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 glucose must be confirmed by repeating the fasting glucose test a second time on a different
day.
3.) Two-hour plasma glucose greater than or equal to 200 mg/dl during an oral glucose tolerance
test. The test should be performed as described by the World Health Organization (WHO),
using a glucose load containing the equivalent of 75g anhydrous glucose dissolved in water.

4.) A1c greater than or equal to 6.5%. The test should be performed in a laboratory using a
method that is National Glycohemoglobin Standardization Program (NGSP) certified and
standardized to the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) reference assay.
Diagnosis should be confirmed by a repeat A1C test unless clinical symptoms and glucose
levels over 200 mg/dL are present.
In the absence of unequivocal hyperglycemia with acute metabolic decompensation, these criteria
should be confirmed by repeat testing on a different day. The oral glucose tolerance test is not
recommended for routine clinical use. Different criteria are used to diagnose gestational diabetes
in pregnant women.

Recommendations for Management of Diabetes

1) Complete history and physical examination upon initial diagnosis (including a fasting plasma
glucose, HgbA1C, lipid profile, serum creatinine, urinalysis for glucose, ketones, protein and
evidence of infection, determination for microalbuminuria, urine culture if evidence of
infection and thyroid function tests when indicated, neurological examination, foot and skin
examinations).
2) Screen for psychosocial problems such as depression and diabetes related distress, anxiety,
eating disorders, and cognitive impairment when self-management is poor.
3) Hemoglobin A1C level:
a. Every three months if treatment changes or patient is not meeting goal A1C
b. Twice per year if stable and meeting goals
c. In general, recommend goal Hemoglobin A1C level under 7.0%
This A1C goal does not apply to all patients
Goal A1C must be determined for each specific patient by their physician based on a
balance of the benefits of glucose control versus the risk of a severe low glucose event.
Less stringent AlC goals may be appropriate for patients with a history of severe
hypoglycemia, patients with limited life expectancies, children, individuals with comorbid
conditions, and those with longstanding diabetes and minimal or stable microvascular
complications.
4) Dilated retinal eye exam yearly by an Ophthalmologist or Optometrist
5) Annual foot exam for all patients with diabetes. All patients with insensate feet, foot
deformities, and/or history of foot ulcers should have foot exam at every visit. Include general
foot self-care education.
6) Fasting cholesterol panel is reasonable at diagnosis, at the initial medical evaluation (and/or
age 40), and every 1-2 years thereafter.
7) Microalbumin measurement once yearly—spot urine test for microalbumin to creatinine ratio
in mg/gm creatinine. Annual serum creatinine level, regardless of urine albumin excretion.
8) Blood pressure at every diabetes visit: recommend BP < 140/90
9) Lower blood pressure targets, such as <130/80, may be appropriate for certain individuals
such as younger patients, if it can be achieved without undue treatment burden

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10) Patients with blood pressure >120/80 should be advised on lifestyle changes to reduce blood
pressure. Provide patient education regarding regular meal planning, nutritional guidelines,
need for regular exercise, and home glucose monitoring
11) Provide patient education regarding weight loss and smoking cessation, if indicated, at each
visit
12) Check weight as a vital sign at every diabetes visit
13) Recommend yearly dental exam/referral
14) Recommend annual influenza vaccine
15) Recommend pneumoccocal vaccine at diagnosis and revaccinate per CDC guidelines
16) Recommend hepatitis B vaccine to unvaccinated adults ages 19-59, consider ages 60+

American Diabetes Association Recommended Treatment

1) Consider aspirin therapy as a primary prevention strategy in those with Type I or Type 2
diabetes at increased cardiovascular risk (10-year risk >10%). This includes most men >50 and
women >60 who have at least one additional major risk factor (family history of CVD,
hypertension, smoking, dyslipidemia, or albuminuria).
a) Aspirin should not be recommended for CVD prevention for adults with diabetes at
low CVD risk (10-year CVD risk <5%), since the potential adverse effects from bleeding
likely offset the potential benefits.
b) In patients in these age groups with multiple other risk factors (e.g., 10-year risk 5-10%),
clinical judgment is required to determine aspirin recommendation for each specific
patient.
c) Use aspirin therapy (75-162 mg/day) as a secondary prevention strategy in those with
diabetes and a history of CVD.
d) For patients with CVD and documented aspirin allergy, clopidogrel (75 mg/day) should
be used.
2) Pharmacological therapy for patients with diabetes and hypertension should be with a regimen
that includes either an ACE inhibitor,an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), a thiazide-like
diuretics, or a dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (but not a combination of ACE inhibitors
and angiotensin receptor blockers). If ACE inhibitors, ARBs, or diuretics are used, kidney
function and serum potassium levels should be closely monitored.
3) Consider screening those with type 1 diabetes for other autoimmune diseases as appropriate
(i.e., thyroid, vitamin B12 deficiency, celiac disease).
4) Statin therapy: treatment initiation (and initial dose) is driven primarily by risk status rather
than LDL levels. A screening lipid profile is reasonable at diabetes diagnosis, at the initial
medical evaluation (and/or age 40), and periodically thereafter.
a) In all patients with diabetes who are ˃ or equal to age 40, moderate intensity statin
treatment should be considered in addition to lifestyle therapy.
b) High-dose therapy should be considered if increased CVD risk is present.
c) In patients under age 40 with type 1 diabetes, treatment with a moderate dose of statin
should be considered if the patient has increased CVD risk, or with a high dose of statin
if the patient has overt CVD.
Addendum
Diabetes classification ICD-10 codes: E13.9, E10.9, E11.65, E10.65, E11.69, E13.10,
E10.10, E11.00, E11.01, E13.00, E13.01, E10.69, E11.641, E13.11, E13.641, E10.11,
E10.641, E11.21, E11.22, E11.29, E13.21, E13.22, E13.29, E10.21, E10.22, E10.29,
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E11.311, E11.319, E11.321, E11.329, E11.331, E11.339, E11.341, E11.349, E11.351,
E11.359, E11.36, E11.39, E13.311, E13.319, E13.321, E13.329, E13.339, E13.341,
E13.349, E13.351, E13.359, E13.36, E13.39, E10.311, E10.321, E10.329, E10.331,
E10.339, E10.341, E10.349, E10.351, E10.569, E10.36, E10.39, E10.40, E10.41,
E10.42, E10.43, E10.44, E10.49, E10.610, E11.40, E11.49, E11.51, E11.52, E11.59,
E13.51, E13.52, E13.59, E10.51, E10.52, E10.59, E11.618, E11.620, E11.621, E11.622,
E11.628, E11.630, E11.638, E11.649, E13.618, E13.620, E13.621, E13.622, E13.628,
E13.630, E13.638, E13.649, E13.65, E13.69, E10.618, E10.620, E10.621, E10.622,
E10.628, E10. E10.630, E10.638, E10.649, E11.8, E13.8, E10.8, H4430, H44329,
H44319, H44399, O243419, O2432, O24911, O24912, O24913, O2492, O2493,
O24911, O24912, O24913, O2493

References
The Journal of Clinical and Applied Research and Education, American Diabetes Association:
Clinical Practice Recommendations 2017, at webpage www.diabetes.org

American Diabetic Association: Physician’s Guide to Insulin Dependent (Type I) Diabetes

National Guideline Clearinghouse. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Agency for
Healthcare Research and Quality, Advancing Excellence in Healthcare. www.guideline.gov,
NGC-9416.

National Committee for Quality Assurance, “HEDIS 2017 Technical Specifications.”

President, Board of Directors Date

Medical Associates Clinic

Original: 05/96 Revised: 11/99 Reviewed: 01/06 Revised: 07/13

Revised: 06/97 Revised: 11/00 Revised: 06/07 Revised: 07/15
Revised: 11/97 Revised: 05/01 Revised: 02/08 Revised: 07/16
Reviewed: 03/98 Revised: 04/02 Revised: 09/09 Revised: 05/17
Revised: 11/98 Revised: 10/03 Revised: 03/10 Reviewed: 01/18
Revised: 03/99 Revised: 07/04 Revised: 06/11
Reviewed: 10/99 Revised: 01/05 Revised: 06/12

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