Diabetes for healthcare providers

Clinical Guidelines

Clinical Guidelines(external link) Starship Children's Hospital, NZ
Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) management(external link) Starship Children's Hospital Clinical Guidelines, NZ, 2020
Diabetes - microalbuminuria in children and young people with diabetes mellitus(external link) Starship Children's Hospital Clinical Guidelines, NZ, 2018
Diabetes mellitus type 1 - management of persistent hypoglycaemia using mini dose glucagon(external link) Starship Children's Hospital Clinical Guidelines, NZ, 2021

Resources

Insulin therapy in diabetes(external link) Research Review, NZ, 2025 – Page 5 contains information on insulin in T1DM
Type 1 diabetes mellitus(external link) New Zealand Formulary
Understanding the role of insulin in the management of type 1 diabetes(external link) BPAC, NZ, 2019

Clinical guidelines

B-QuiCK Type-2 diabetes(external link) BPAC, NZ
Type 2 diabetes management guidance(external link) New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD)
Management algorithm for T2DM(external link) New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD)
Glycaemic targets in the treatment of diabetes(external link) New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD)
Management of hypoglycaemia(external link) New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD)

Diagnosis
Prediabetes(external link) New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD)
Screening for diabetes in asymptomatic adults(external link) New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD)
Diabetes Screening and Diagnosis in Adults(external link) Midland Region HealthPathways, NZ (login required)

Resources

Type 2 diabetes management guidance: Updated 2023 recommendations from the NZSSD(external link) Research Review, NZ, 2023
Best practice diabetes toolbox(external link) BPAC, NZ, 2022
Type 2 diabetes management toolbox: from lifestyle to insulin(external link) BPAC, NZ, 2021
A rising tide of type 2 diabetes in younger people – what can primary care do?(external link) BPAC, NZ, 2021

Continuing professional development

National Diabetes Knowledge programme(external link) New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD). Free course for healthcare providers.
Diabetes Diagnosis(external link) Tim Kenealy, Goodfellow Unit, NZ, 2017
Dietitians can join the diabetes special interest group of Dietitians NZ(external link)

Webinar: Overview of diabetes 
Presented by Lisa Sparks

(Mobile Health, NZ, 2020)

Webinar: Type II diabetes in young people
Presented by Dr Steven Miller

(Goodfellow Unit Webinar, NZ, 2018)

Clinical Guidelines

Healthy eating and weight loss(external link) New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD)
Physical activity(external link) New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD)
Sleep(external link) New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD)
Diabetes and driving(external link) New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD) 

Resources

How do we support walking prescriptions for type 2 diabetes management? Facilitators and barriers following a 3-month prescription(external link) The Royal NZ College of General Practitioners, 2020
Primary care-led weight management for remission of type 2 diabetes (DiRECT) – an open-label, cluster-randomised trial(external link) The Lancet, UK, 2017

Huarahi Ora Journey to Wellbeing

The Journey to Wellbeing Huarahi Ora is a set of guiding principles commissioned by Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora. The document sets out seven guiding principles to help providers, services and community groups that intend to provide Journey to Wellbeing Huarahi Ora programmes or initiatives for individuals, whānau and groups living with long-term health conditions.

It builds on evidence-informed approaches that ensure programmes and initiatives continue to evolve to effectively support and meet the needs of whānau and communities from diverse backgrounds including Māori, Pacific Peoples and people living with disabilities. Using the guiding principles supports the direction of Pae Ora (Healthy Futures). Find out more about the Journey to Wellbeing Huarahi Ora(external link).

Continuing professional development

Nutrition – type two diabetics(external link) Jennifer Crowley, Goodfellow Unit Podcast, NZ, 2017
Dr Jennifer Crowley talks about nutrition and advice to give people with type 2 diabetes. Jennifer's doctorate in health sciences thesis topic was 'New Zealand GPs and nutrition care – perceptions, perceived competence and barriers to provision'. Jennifer is a registered dietitian, registered sports dietitian and secondary teacher with extensive experience in teaching nutrition education.

Clinical Guidelines 

Management algorithm for type 2 diabetes(external link) New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD)
Non-insulin medications(external link) New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD)
Insulin(external link) (T2DM) New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD)
Sick day management in patients with diabetes(external link) (T2DM) New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD)

Resources 

Type 2 diabetes(external link) New Zealand Formulary
Medicine datasheet and consumer medicine information(external link) Medsafe, NZ. Use the link to search for the medication you want information about. In the 'Medicine' field enter the generic name or brand name.
Insulin therapy in diabetes(external link) Research Review, NZ, 2025
Initiating insulin for people with type 2 diabetes(external link) BPAC, NZ, 2022
Empagliflozin and dulaglutide: Your questions answered(external link) Dr Ryan Paul, He Ako Hiringa, NZ, 2021
Māori, Pacific peoples missing diabetes medicines needed for equity(external link) EPiC, He Ako Hiringa, NZ - Monitor the equity in your prescribing
Stepping up treatment in people with poorly controlled diabetes(external link) Clinical audit, BPAC, NZ
Dialling back treatment intensity for older people with type 2 diabetes(external link) BPAC, NZ, 2019

Slideshow: How do medicines for Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) work?

The following slideshow can be a useful aid for conversations when starting patients on medicine for T2DM.

(Healthify He Puna Waiora, NZ, 2025)

Continued professional development 

Pacific patients and T2D – how can we do better?(external link) Goodfellow MedCases, 2024. This Medcase discusses rapid escalation of treatment for poorly controlled type 2 diabetes, highlighting ideas to improve outcomes for Pacific patients. 

Webinar: New diabetes medications: guidelines and best practice
Presented by Dr Ryan Paul and Dr Bryan Betty

(Goodfellow Unit Webinar, NZ, 2021)

Video: New medications in type 2 diabetes
Presented by Dr Zaven Panossian

(The Goodfellow Unit, NZ, 2018)

Video: Starting insulin with type 2 diabetes
Presented by Kate Smallman

(The Goodfellow Unit, NZ, 2018)

CGM and insulin pump resources for healthcare professionals(external link) Pharmac, NZ
Diagnostic and monitoring devices for diabetes mellitus(external link) New Zealand Formulary
A guide to the availability of CareSens meters and test strips for newly diagnosed patients(external link) Pharmaco diabetes, NZ

Clinical guidelines

Screening and management of complications of diabetes(external link) New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD)
Type 2 diabetes management guidelines – management of diabetic renal disease(external link) New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD)
Kidney disease in diabetes(external link) Auckland Regional HealthPathways, NZ
Management of cardiovascular risk factors in diabetes(external link) New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD)
Management of diabetic retinopathy(external link) New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD)
Diabetes in pregnancy(external link) New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD)

Diabetic Nephropathy

General practice has an important role in distinguishing between the majority of patients who have stable CKD (who require management of their cardiovascular risk factors) and the minority with or at high risk of progressive CKD (who need to be closely monitored in collaboration with nephrology services).

The following is taken from Type 2 diabetes management guidelines – complications of diabetes(external link) New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (NZSSD), 2020

Those at high risk of diabetic complications include both vulnerable populations and those with associated risk factors:

• Populations vulnerable to the development of diabetic complications:
  • Onset of diabetes at a young age.
  • Advancing age.
  • People of Māori or a Pacific ethnicity.
  • People of other non-European ethnicities.
  • Lower socioeconomic status.
• Risk factors for the development of diabetic complications:
  • Long duration of diabetes.
  • Suboptimal glycaemic control.
  • Pre-existing complications or comorbidities e.g. established cardiovascular disease, microalbuminura and/or reduced eGFR.
  • Hypertension.
  • Dyslipidaemia.
  • Smoking.
  • Obesity.
  • Reduced engagement with health services and adherence to therapy.
    
    

Resources

Chronic kidney disease: the canary in the coal mine(external link) BPAC, NZ, 2022
Slowing progression of renal dysfunction in patients with diabetes(external link) BPAC, NZ, 2019
Māori health literacy research: Gestational diabetes mellitus(external link) Health New Zealand |Te Whatu Ora, 2023
COVID-19 and diabetes [PDF, 604 KB](external link) Research Review, NZ, 2020

Continuing professional development

Webinar: The diabetic foot(external link) Southern Wound Healing Group
Presented by Rebecca Aburn (Nurse Practitioner) and Emil Schmidt (Wound Care Specialist) 

(My Health Hub, NZ, 2022)

Webinar: Surgical intervention, podiatry and orthotics – an overview(external link) Southern Wound Healing Group
Presented by Fraser Harrold (Orthopaedic Surgeon), Jacqui Journeaux (Podiatrist) and Brent Fisher (Orthotist)

(My Health Hub, NZ, 2022)

Diabetes topics