ABCD position papers: introduction

Abstract

The Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD) is pleased to introduce the publication of the first ABCD Position Paper. The Association plans to produce a series of position statements on clinical topics of practical interest to health care professionals involved in the delivery of diabetes care. Initial papers will address areas already identified by other official bodies such as the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) – for example, retinopathy screening – and where stated guidelines have proved confusing and often inconsistent with both clinical experience and published evidence.1 ABCD wishes to produce simplified, practical and pragmatic guidance on issues directly related to implementation of best clinical practice for diabetes. The first of these papers entitled, ‘ABCD position statement on glitazones’, has been compiled by lead authors Lyn Higgs (Consultant Diabetologist, Bath) and Andrew Krentz (Consultant Diabetologist, Southampton) following widespread electronic consultation with the ABCD membership. Although this position paper represents a secondary care specialist perspective, we believe that our comments and observations are relevant to colleagues in primary care and to other members of the multidisciplinary diabetes team. Future papers are planned on the subjects of retinopathy screening, insulin pumps and the management of diabetic ketoacidosis. We hope that these publications, derived from the ABCD consensus, will provide a useful contribution to the provision of high quality diabetes care.