At the beginning of the 21st century, diabetes mellitus remains a dominant public health problem worldwide. This is because the number of diabetics has doubled in the space of a generation. It is also because the dramatic consequences of an undiagnosed condition or suboptimal treatment are now clearly identified.
At the beginning of the 21st century, diabetes mellitus remains a dominant public health problem worldwide. This is because the number of diabetics has doubled in the space of a generation. It is also because the dramatic consequences of an undiagnosed condition or suboptimal treatment are now clearly identified.
This third edition aims to incorporate the essentials of these innovations. It also highlights the importance of a holistic approach to the diabetic patient, which combines knowledge, know-how and interpersonal skills, based on competence and the "one-on-one consultation".
Compared to previous editions, the majority of chapters have been extensively revised, reflecting the latest scientifically validated findings. New definitions of prediabetes and diabetes, the presence and impact of metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, and recent etiopathogenic concepts of diabetes are some of the essential information for early diagnosis. This should lead to a modern therapeutic approach: for this reason, the chapters dedicated to this topic have been enriched with the inclusion of (numerous) new medications—from oral antihyperglycemic agents to insulin analogs—and with decision trees to facilitate their appropriate and rational use. The chapter on chronic complications, with their risk factors and intervention thresholds, has also been significantly revised, given the concept of a strategy that can no longer be exclusively "glucose-centric."
