This site is intended for healthcare professionals only

Diabetes &
Primary Care

Issue:

Share this article

The updated Alphabet Strategy: Facilitating the implementation of NICE guidelines

Vinod Patel, John Morrissey, Hala Alsafadi
, ,

The excess premature vascular disease morbidity and mortality associated with diabetes is well recognised (Huxley et al, 2006). Numerous single risk factor intervention trials and the recently published multifactorial intensified therapy trial provide abundant evidence that an intensified approach to the management of type 2 diabetes is clearly superior to the conventional treatment (Gaede et al, 2008). In 2008 NICE published guidance on the management of type 2 diabetes that replaced earlier guidelines from 2002. It is a comprehensive 280 page document with a quick reference guide that is likely to be the document more widely read. The guideline has been recently updated to consider the newer agents for blood glucose lowering. In this article the authors discuss their locally adapted updated “Alphabet Strategy” as a handy reference guide for primary care teams.

Worldwide, the number of people with type 2 diabetes is expected to have doubled by 2030 (Wild et al, 2004). The exact current prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the UK is unknown, and will vary with factors such as mix of ethnic groups and degree of social deprivation.

Global prevalence estimates for diabetes vary from around 3.5% to 5.0%, and a total of 1.71 million people in the 20- to 79-year-old age group have diabetes, of whom it is conventional to assume 85% have type 2 diabetes (International Diabetes Federation, 2006). This number does not take into account people with undiagnosed type 2 diabetes. The NHS spends around 5% of its budget or close to £10 million a day treating diabetes and its effects, and this is expected to rise to 10% by 2011 (Williams et al, 2002; Wild et al, 2004).

Fifty per cent of people with type 2 diabetes have evidence of complications at the time of diagnosis. It is estimated that type 2 diabetes “ages” the vasculature by 15 years and life expectancy is reduced on average by up to 10 years, with cardiovascular disease being the primary cause of death in this group (Perusicová, 2001; Laing et al, 2003; Booth et al, 2006).

With the increasing prevalence of diabetes, there will inevitably be an increase in deaths from cardiovascular disease, as well as an increase in other complications associated with the condition. The human and economic costs of this epidemic are enormous and there is always a need for practical guidelines to improve the quality of diabetes care.

The Alphabet Strategy
The Alphabet Strategy was created locally after primary care teams attached to the authors’ secondary care centre felt that a single, one-page guideline was needed, that could also be used to educate people with diabetes (Figure 1). The strategy is a condensed but simple mnemonic approach based on the “seven most important aspects” of highly effective diabetes care (Patel and Morrissey, 2002):

  • Advice.
  • Blood pressure.
  • Cholesterol.
  • Diabetes (glycaemic control).
  • Eye care.
  • Foot care.
  • Guardian drugs.

Teaching and implementation materials comprise: education posters; an individualised care plan; a specifically designed diabetes passport including information relating to diabetes knowledge and individualised agreed targets; a diabetes presentation leaflet; one-page guides as well as a comprehensive 100-page guide; an evidence-based computer program with immediate access to results of landmark studies in diabetes; an audit tool; and an expert patient programme that provides lay-led, group-based support for people to self-manage their diabetes.

A: Advice
The first of the key priorities for implementing the new NICE guidelines is to “offer structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the diagnosis with annual reinforcement and review” (National Collaborating Centre for Chronic Conditions [NCCCC], 2008).

Lifestyle is critically important in the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes, and diet and exercise are the most important part of lifestyle modification. Smoking cessation and reducing alcohol intake advice are essential and should be reinforced at every annual review.

Randomised clinical trials have shown that progression to diabetes can be prevented or postponed by lifestyle intervention. In the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study, intensive lifestyle intervention (involving 5% weight reduction per year and moderate exercise of 30 minutes per day) reduced diabetes risk by 58% compared with the control group (Lindström et al, 2003). These results have been reproduced by the Diabetes Prevention Program, in which lifestyle intervention was superior to metformin treatment (Knowler et al, 2002). This type of intervention is a feasible option to prevent and improve type 2 diabetes and should be implemented in the primary healthcare system.

In a study of the DESMOND (Diabetes Education and Self Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed) programme, structured group education that involved 6 hours of education delivered by two trained healthcare professionals, was tested. The enhanced education programme resulted in a statistically significant improvement in weight loss (P=0.027), smoking cessation (P=0.033), illness belief scores (P=0.001) and depression (P=0.032), despite little or no effect on HbA1c levels over a 12-month period (Davies et al, 2008). For an education programme to be effective it should take into consideration any cultural, religious or language issues. The Alphabet Strategy has been used in a diverse range of settings and in people of varying age and ethnicity to good effect.

B: Blood pressure
Elevated blood pressure greatly increases the already elevated cardiovascular risk in people with type 2 diabetes (Williams, 2003). People with high blood pressure may require a combination of drugs to achieve the recommended blood pressure targets, with many requiring three or more.

In the UKPDS (UK Prospective Diabetes Study [UKPDS Study Group 1998a]), intensive antihypertensive therapy (a blood pressure target of 144/88 mmHg versus the conventional target of 154/87 mmHg) significantly reduced the risk of stroke by 44% and death by 32% (predominantly cardiovascular disease). Reducing blood pressure slows the progression of retinopathy, albuminuria and nephropathy (Estacio et al, 2000). Further cardiovascular benefit would be expected if blood pressure could be lowered to an optimal target of less than 130/80 mmHg in people with existing microvascular or macrovascular complications. It is usually possible to reduce blood pressure to optimal levels safely by using multiple therapies (Poulter et al, 2005). The evidence for the renin-angiotensin system blockade, especially for nephroprotection and cardiovascular protection, supports the use of an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin-2 receptor blocker (A2RB) as first-line treatment for hypertension in people with diabetes (Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation Study Investigators, 2000).

In a substudy of the ADVANCE (Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Preterax and Diamicron MR Controlled Evaluation) trial, the mean blood pressure in the intervention group was 135/75 mmHg, the incidence of combined microvascular and macrovascular events was reduced by 18% and there was a 21% reduction in the development or worsening of nephropathy or microalbuminuria (Patel et al, 2007). ADVANCE added some support for the use of a diuretic as second-line therapy in people with diabetes in addition to an ACE or an A2RB.

Other medications will be required to achieve blood pressure targets in most people with diabetes, and calcium channel blockers, alpha-blockers, beta-blockers or spironolactone are all suitable therapies to consider. Potassium level should be monitored regularly in cases where spironolactone is added to ACE or A2RB.

The 10-year follow-up results of the UKPDS (Holman et al, 2008a) show that the benefits seen in people originally assigned to tight blood pressure control, except for peripheral vascular disease, were not sustained once the differences in blood pressure, seen early in the trial, were lost. This contrasts with the continuing benefit of earlier improved glucose control seen during the same follow-up period (Holman et al, 2008b). These results indicate that a sustained control of blood pressure is essential for continuing cardiovascular benefits. The target should be <140/80 mmHg generally, and <130/80 mmHg in the presence of microvascular or macrovascular complications.

C: Cholesterol
The most common form of dyslipidaemia in diabetes is mixed hypercholesteraemia with elevated triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol. Dyslipidaemia is an important contributor to the increased cardiovascular risk associated with type 2 diabetes. The primary role of treatment is to lower cholesterol to <4 mmol/L and lower the LDL cholesterol to a target of <2 mmol/L; the statin is the drug class of choice. The secondary target is to manage the triglycerides and lower HDL in most cases with the addition of a fibrate. Several trials of statins have shown significant reductions in cardiovascular events in people with diabetes (Pyorälä et al, 1997). This treatment effect was independent of baseline cholesterol.

The CARDS (Collaborative Atorvastatin Diabetes Study) looked at people with type 2 diabetes and one risk factor (microalbuminuria, hypertension, smoker or retinopathy). In participants treated with a statin, acute coronary events were reduced by 36% and stroke by 48% (Griebenow, 2005).

There is strong evidence that intensive cholesterol-lowering with atorvastatin (at a dose of 80 mg) is superior in reducing major cardiovascular events in people with diabetes and established ischaemic heart disease (Ridker et al, 2005). Initiating treatment with simvastatin at 40 mg would be appropriate; increasing the dose, changing to a more potent statin or adding ezetimibe would be the next step to achieve cholesterol targets.

All people with type 2 diabetes over the age of 40 years (<40 years of age if they have other cardiovascular risk factors) should be offered a statin unless the cardiovascular risk from non-hyperglycaemia related factors is low at which point, further assessment is required (NCCCC, 2008). Statins have a relatively modest efficacy in raising levels of HDL cholesterol or lowering triglyceride levels. In a recent survey in the USA more than 50% of men and over 70% of women with diabetes had a persistently low HDL cholesterol level (<1.0 mmol/L) and over 50% of all patients had triglyceride >1.7 mmol/L (Jacobs et al, 2005). Data from randomised controlled trials also support a role for fibrates in reducing cardiovascular risk in people with diabetes (Keech et al, 2005), although the extent of evidence is less than for the statins. Fibrate should be considered if the person with diabetes is at high risk of cardiovascular disease and triglyceride levels are >2.3 mmol/L despite statin therapy (NCCCC, 2008).

D: Diabetes
Glycaemia is related to the risk of developing cardiovascular disease, and numerous randomised controlled trials have shown that good glycaemic control can reduce the risk of developing microvascular and macrovascular complications in people with type 2 diabetes. In the UKPDS, participants with an average HbA1c of 7.0% (53 mmol/mol; comprising the intensive treatment group) had considerably fewer microvascular complications than the conventional treatment group with HbA1c levels of 7.9% (63 mmol/mol) (UKPDS Group, 1998b). The authors of the study have also shown that good glycaemic control reduces the risk of peripheral vascular disease with a favourable trend for a lower risk of myocardial infarction (Stratton et al, 2000).

In the ADVANCE study, a reduction in HbA1c levels from 7.5% (58 mmol/mol) to 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) was associated with further reduction in renal outcome and no adverse effect on macrovascular events or mortality (ADVANCE Collaborative Group et al, 2008). This was in contrast to the ACCORD (Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes) study published earlier which showed increased mortality in the intensive glycaemic control group (ACCORD Study Group et al, 2008).

The increased mortality observed in the intensive therapy group in the ACCORD study might be related to the adverse cardiovascular effects of hypoglycaemia when striving for a normal target HbA1c level. A possible explanation of why ADVANCE showed no benefit of blood glucose control on cardiovascular outcomes is that a 5-year follow-up is not long enough to pick up the slow-acting effects of glucose-lowering on cardiovascular disease, or the blood glucose control was too late and could not “stop the moving train”.

The 10-year post-trial follow-up of newly diagnosed people with type 2 diabetes randomised in the UKPDS (Holman, 2008b) demonstrated a continued reduction in microvascular risk (24%) and emergent risk reductions for myocardial infarction (15%) and death from any cause (13%), despite an early loss of glycaemic differences, now termed the “legacy effect”. A continued benefit after metformin therapy was evident during the 10-year post-trial follow-up among overweight people (33% risk reduction for myocardial infarction and 27% for death from any cause). This crucial information creates strong arguments in favour of early intense optimisation of blood glucose.

Metformin should still be the first-line oral agent for obese people with type 2 diabetes if HbA1c levels remain above 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) after lifestyle modification. Metformin use was associated with cardiovascular benefit (UKPDS Group, 1998c) and it should be increased gradually to the maximal tolerated dose. Stop metformin if creatinine levels are >150 µmol/L or if GFR <30 mL/min. Second-line agents include sulphonylureas, and then insulin therapy as third-line. Treatment should be tailored to the needs of the individual and a rapid-acting insulin secretagogue could be an option in people with an erratic lifestyle. DPP-4 inhibitors were included in the recently published NICE guidelines (NICE, 2009) as a possible third-line therapy, after metformin and sulphonylurea, or as a second-line therapy after metformin if a sulphonylurea is contraindicated or not tolerated, or the person is at significant risk of hypoglycaemia or its consequences. They are also suggested as second-line add-on to a sulphonylurea if metformin is contraindicated or not tolerated. DPP-4 inhibitors will be particularly useful in people with weight gain or cardiac failure.

Recommendations regarding thiazolinediones (TZDs) have been recently updated, and they are considered as possible second- or third-line agents (NICE, 2009) being particularly useful in people with marked insulin resistance. NICE has stated that when prescribing a TZD, the most up-to-date advice from regulatory authorities regarding cost and safety issues should be taken into account. NICE has specifically recommended pioglitazone if a TZD is used with insulin treatment. TZDs should not be used in people with heart failure or at high risk of fracture and people should be warned about possible fluid retention.

Exenatide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, has been recommended for people with diabetes and a high BMI (≥35 kg/m2), who have specific psychological, biochemical or medical problems associated with a high body weight and an HbA1c level ≥7.5% (≥58 mmol/mol) after a trial of metformin and a sulphonylurea (NICE, 2009). People with a lower BMI may be considered for exenatide therapy if insulin would have significant occupational implications or if weight loss would benefit other significant obesity related comorbidities. It should only be continued in cases of maintained beneficial response (1 percentage point [10.9 mmol/mol] reduction of HbA1c and 3% weight reduction within 6 months) (NICE, 2009).

E: Eye care
Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease and is the leading cause of blindness in the working-age population in the UK (Younis et al, 2003). There are often no symptoms in the early stages of the disease, therefore retinal screening should be carried out annually, ideally using a digital retinal photography programme to detect early changes. Visual acuity testing should be done routinely as part of an eye surveillance programme.

Urgent referral to an ophthalmologist is mandatory if there are features of maculopathy, preproliferative retinopathy or an unexplained drop in visual acuity. People should have an emergency review by an ophthalmologist in cases of sudden loss of vision, retinal detachment, pre-retinal vitreous haemorrhage or rubeosis iridis (NCCCC, 2008). Good glycaemic, blood pressure and cholesterol control is key to prevent development or worsening of diabetic retinopathy (UKPDS Group, 1998b; Estacio et al, 2000).

F: Foot care
Diabetic foot ulcers account for 50–75% of non traumatic lower extremity amputation (Holzer et al, 1998). Peripheral neuropathy and peripheral vascular disease are risk factors for the development of a foot ulcer.

People with diabetes should be educated about foot care and how to avoid ulceration. Annual review by a practice nurse or podiatrist is essential. Examination of the feet should include peripheral pulses and 10-g monofilament testing. If there is any evidence of a neuropathic or ischaemic area of the foot, referral to a podiatrist is essential as there is a high risk of ulceration (NICE, 2004). People with a foot ulcer should be urgently referred to a specialised foot clinic and any suspicion of infection should prompt treatment with antibiotics.

G: Guardian drugs
Cardiovascular protective drugs, including aspirin, statins, ACE-inhibitors or A2RBs, should be considered in almost all people with type 2 diabetes unless contraindicated. In individuals intolerant of aspirin, clopidogrel use would be appropriate as an alternative.

The multifactorial polypharmacy advised in the authors’ Alphabet Strategy is similar to the approach advocated in the Steno-2 study (Gaede et al, 2008). In this study 160 participants with type 2 diabetes and persistent microalbuminuria were randomly assigned to receive either intensive therapy or conventional therapy. The intensive therapy in the initial 7.8 years follow-up resulted in 50% reduction in vascular complications, during the total follow-up of 13.3 years the mortality rate was 30% for the intensive therapy group compared with 50% for the conventional group. The intensive multifactorial intervention in the Steno-2 study significantly reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease by 53%, stroke by 85%, amputations by 50%, nephropathy by 61%, retinopathy by 58% and autonomic neuropathy by 67% compared with conventional care (Gaede et al, 2008).

The current NICE guideline advocates a multifactorial polypharmacy approach to the management of type 2 diabetes, with many people likely to be receiving aspirin, statin therapy, antihypertensive agents and glucose-lowering medication aimed at reaching HbA1c targets. As such, mortality reduction from cardiovascular disease similar to the levels seen in the Steno-2 study may be expected in the UK population with diabetes.

Conclusion
NICE guidelines offer the opportunity for systems of diabetes care to commission high-quality patient-centered care based on education, both for healthcare professionals and for people with diabetes. The key “Darzi” visions of the NHS next stage review (care being fair, safe, effective and personalised) (Department of Health, 2008) should remain key principles in creating excellence in diabetes care. The Alphabet Strategy has previously shown that its use can achieve standards of care similar to UKPDS and Steno-2 intensive cohorts (Patel and Morrissey, 2002).

This article provides an easy-to-use summary based on the Alphabet Strategy and NICE guidelines for type 2 diabetes (NCCCC, 2008; NICE, 2009) that the authors hope will be of practical benefit to healthcare professionals in diabetes care.

REFERENCES:

Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes Study Group, Gerstein HC, Miller ME et al (2008) Effects of intensive glucose lowering in type 2 diabetes. N Engl J Med 358: 2545–59
ADVANCE Collaborative Group, Patel A, MacMahon S et al (2008) Intensive blood glucose control and vascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. N Engl J Med 358: 2560–72
Booth GL, Kapral MK, Fung K et al (2006) Relation between age and cardiovascular disease in men and women with diabetes compared with non-diabetic people: a population-based retrospective cohort study. Lancet 368: 29–36
Davies MJ, Heller S, Skinner TC et al (2008) Effectiveness of the diabetes education and self management for ongoing and newly diagnosed (DESMOND) programme for people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes: cluster randomised controlled trial. BMJ 336: 491–5
Department of Health (2008) High Quality Care For All: NHS Next Stage Review. Final Report. DH, London
Estacio RO, Jeffers BW, Gifford N et al (2000) Effect of blood pressure control on diabetic microvascular complications in patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care 23(Suppl 2): B54–64
Gaede P, Lund-Andersen H, Parving HH, Pedersen O (2008) Effect of a multifactorial intervention on mortality in type 2 diabetes. N Engl J Med 358: 580–91
Griebenow R (2005) [The CARDS Study: cardiovascular primary prevention in diabetes patients using Atorvastin]. Internist (Berl) 46: 350–2
Heart Outcomes Prevention Evaluation Study Investigators (2000) Effects of ramipril on cardiovascular and microvascular outcomes in people with diabetes mellitus: results of the HOPE study and MICRO-HOPE substudy. Lancet 355: 253–9
Holman RR, Paul SK, Bethel MA et al (2008a) Long-term follow-up after tight control of blood pressure in type 2 diabetes. N Engl J Med 359: 1565–76
Holman RR, Paul SK, Bethel MA et al (2008b) 10-year follow-up of intensive glucose control in type 2 diabetes. N Engl J Med 359: 1577–89
Holzer SE, Camerota A, Martens L (1998) Costs and duration of care for lower extremity ulcers in patients with diabetes. Clin Ther 20: 169–81
Huxley RF, Barzi F, Woodward M (2006) Excess risk of fatal coronary heart disease associated with diabetes in men and women: meta-analysis of 37 prospective cohort studies. BMJ 332: 73–8
International Diabetes Federation (2006) Diabetes Atlas. 3rd edn. International Diabetes Federation, Brussels
Jacobs MJ, Kleisli T, Pio JR et al (2005) Prevalence and control of dyslipidemia among persons with diabetes in the United States. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 70: 263–9
Keech A, Simes RJ, Barter P et al (2005) Effects of long-term fenofibrate therapy on cardiovascular events in 9795 people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (the FIELD study): randomised controlled trial. Lancet 366: 1849–61
Knowler WC, Barrett-Connor E, Fowler SE et al (2002) Reduction in the incidence of type 2 diabetes with lifestyle intervention or metformin. N Engl J Med 346: 393–403
Laing SP, Swerdlow AJ, Slater SD (2003) Mortality from heart disease in a cohort of 23,000 patients with insulin-treated diabetes. Diabetologia 46: 760–5
Lindström J, Louheranta A, Mannelin M et al (2003) The Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study (DPS): Lifestyle intervention and 3-year results on diet and physical activity. Diabetes Care 26: 3230–6
National Collaborating Centre for Chronic Conditions (2008) Type 2 Diabetes: The Management of Type 2 Diabetes (Update). NICE, London. Available at: http://tiny.cc/rBjZa (accessed 01.06.09)
NICE (2004) Type 2 diabetes: Prevention and Management of Foot Problems: CG10. NICE, London. Available at: http://tiny.cc/haogl (accessed 27.05.09)
NICE (2009) Type 2 Diabetes: Newer Agents for Blood Glucose Control in Type 2 Diabetes. NICE, London. Available at: http://tiny.cc/HBsbC (accessed 01.06.09)
Patel V, Morrissey J (2002) The Alphabet Strategy: The ABC of reducing diabetes complications.
Br J Diabetes Vasc Dis 2: 58–59
Patel A, ADVANCE Collaborative Group, MacMahon S et al (2007) Effects of a fixed combination of perindopril and indapamide on macrovascular and microvascular outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (the ADVANCE trial): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet 370: 829–40
Perusicová J (2001) [Prevalence of dyslipidaemia, hypertension and vascular complications in newly diagnosed diabetics (prospective study: part 2)]. Vnitr Lek 47: 146–50
Poulter NR, Wedel H, Dahl B et al (2005) Role of blood pressure and other variables in the differential cardiovascular event rates noted in the Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial-Blood Pressure Lowering Arm (ASCOT-BPLA). Lancet 366: 907–13
Pyorälä K, Pedersen TR, Kjekshus J et al (1997) Cholesterol lowering with simvastatin improves prognosis of diabetic patients with coronary heart disease. A subgroup analysis of the Scandinavian Simvastatin Survival Study (4S). Diabetes Care 20: 614–20
Ridker PM, Morrow DA, Rose LM et al (2005) Relative efficacy of atorvastatin 80 mg and pravastatin 40 mg in achieving the dual goals of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol <70 mg/dl and C-reactive protein <2 mg/l: an analysis of the PROVE-IT TIMI-22 trial. J Am Coll Cardiol 45: 1644–8
Stratton IM, Adler AI, Neil HA et al (2000) Association of glycaemia with macrovascular and microvascular complications of type 2 diabetes (UKPDS 35): prospective observational study. BMJ 321: 405–12
UK Prospective Diabetes Study Group (1998a) Tight blood pressure control and risk of macrovascular and microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes: UKPDS 38. BMJ 317:
703–13
UK Prospective Diabetes Study Group (1998b) Intensive blood-glucose control with sulphonylureas or insulin compared with conventional treatment and risk of complications in patients with type 2 diabetes (UKPDS 33). Lancet 352: 837–53
UK Prospective Diabetes Study Group (1998c) Effect of intensive blood-glucose control with metformin on complications in overweight patients with type 2 diabetes (UKPDS 34). Lancet 352: 854–65
Wild S, Roglic G, Green A et al (2004) Global prevalence of diabetes: estimates for the year 2000 and projections for 2030. Diabetes Care 27: 1047–53
Williams R, Van Gaal L, Lucioni C et al (2002) Assessing the impact of complications on
the costs of type II diabetes. Diabetologia 45: S13–17
Williams B (2003) Epidemiology and Pathogenesis of hypertension in diabetes. In: Williams B (ed). Hypertension in Diabetes. Martin Dunitz, London
Younis N, Broadbent DM, Harding SP, Vora JP (2003) Incidence of sight-threatening retinopathy in type 1 diabetes in a systematic screening programme. Diabet Med 20: 758–65

Related content
;
Free for all UK & Ireland healthcare professionals

Sign up to all DiabetesontheNet journals

 

By clicking ‘Subscribe’, you are agreeing that DiabetesontheNet.com are able to email you periodic newsletters. You may unsubscribe from these at any time. Your info is safe with us and we will never sell or trade your details. For information please review our Privacy Policy.

Are you a healthcare professional? This website is for healthcare professionals only. To continue, please confirm that you are a healthcare professional below.

We use cookies responsibly to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your browser settings, we’ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on this website. Read about how we use cookies.