Taking a Cardiometabolic Health Approach in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

EP: 1.Hormonal Adaptations in Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity

EP: 2.Importance of Clinical Trials and Guideline Recommendations

EP: 3.Barriers Associated with Guideline-Directed Care

EP: 4.The Role of Weight Management and Glycemic Control in the Management of Type 2 Diabetes

EP: 5.Improving Patient Outcomes Beyond Glycemic Control

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EP: 6.Taking a Cardiometabolic Health Approach in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Cardiovascular-Kidney-Metabolic Framework

The cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) syndrome framework provides a staging system from stage zero (absence of risk factors) through progressively worsening stages including prediabetes, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, subclinical cardiovascular disease, and finally clinically evident cardiovascular disease. This framework helps visualize disease progression and identify intervention points to halt advancement along the spectrum.

Managing CKM syndrome requires a team-based approach, analogous to football where the patient works toward health goals while facing defensive barriers including adverse childhood experiences, mental health challenges, social determinants of health, and the burden of multiple chronic conditions. The physician serves as coach while care managers, behavioral therapists, dietitians, and diabetes educators provide blocking support to help patients overcome these challenges.

Success in this comprehensive approach requires coordination among multiple healthcare professionals working together toward common goals. The team-based model recognizes that no single provider can address all aspects of complex chronic disease management. This coordinated care approach offers the best opportunity to help patients achieve meaningful health improvements and prevent progression along the CKM syndrome spectrum.