While the New Zealand Primary Care Handbook 2012 remains the main reference for health care practitioners, an additional guide, published in 2013 provides updates for CVD risk assessment, management and diabetes screening advice. This guide helps support practitioners to deliver more heart and diabetes checks for their patients. In addition to the guide, a quick reference sheet summarises the key updates. An online version of the handbook and the 2013 updates are available on the Ministry of Health website (www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/cardiovascular-disease-risk-assessment-updated-2013-dec13.pdf).
The New Zealand Primary Care Handbook 2012 provides information on cardiovascular risk assessment and management and management of type 2 diabetes. The risk appraisal is of overall risk for micro- and macrovascular complications. They recommend that people identified as being at high risk of complications should receive more intensive intervention and follow-up. It can be accessed at: www.health.govt.nz/system/files/documents/publications/nz-primary-care-handbook-2012.pdf.
The Best Practice Advocacy Centre (BPAC) has produced a series of articles related to Standard 8, one of which provides guidelines, another implementation advice. ‘Improving glycaemic control in people with type 2 diabetes: Expanding the primary care toolbox’ (www.bpac.org.nz/BPJ/2013/June/docs/BPJ53pages6-15.pdf).
For specific insulin and cardiovascular risk management advice see Standards 5, 6 and 7.
