Linda Bryant discusses gout, a chronic long-term condition that is often associated with other diseases, and with drug-related morbidity and mortality. As such, it needs to be addressed holistically as part of the psychosocial medical model.

Since originally publishing this article in September 2021, selegiline has been discontinued and supplies have been depleted. Rasagiline is now the only funded MAO-B inhibitor available in New Zealand.

This resource provides advice on prescribing and supplying rasagiline, which is currently funded but not yet approved by Medsafe.

When clinically indicated, empagliflozin can be started in adult patients with type 2 diabetes using the steps shown in this resource (updated 24 Aug 2021).

Talking points, relevant for all patients starting empagliflozin, are provided along with two algorithms and accompanying prescribing notes. Which algorithm you follow will depend on your patient’s level of hypoglycaemia risk. 

Biological medicines are already used in Aotearoa New Zealand and with more being developed internationally, it’s important that health professionals feel comfortable prescribing, dispensing, and supporting patients to use them.

We’ve highlighted five key aspects of these medicines in an article and a series of short animated videos. After completing each section, you can take a short quiz to test your learning.

Dulaglutide, a once-weekly injectable medicine, will soon be available for second-line treatment of type 2 diabetes. As most people with type 2 diabetes will require an injectable therapy at some stage, it is important to build acceptability early in the patient journey.

Diabetes clinical nurse specialist Lisa Sparks discusses the place of empagliflozin and dulaglutide in treatment of type 2 diabetes, with emphasis on potential side effects, sick-day management and improving patient adherence.

Māori attitudes to healthcare today are deeply rooted in New Zealand history. In this article, Deborah Bassett-Clarke discusses some reasons why the current model of pharmacy practice does not always meet the needs of Māori and may actually cause health inequities. Understanding these factors is an important first step to improving outcomes for Māori.

Your patient uses gliclazide and insulin but could still benefit from the additional cardiovascular and renal protections of empagliflozin. How would you manage the change in treatment? 

This case study is particularly relevant to prescribers. It originally appeared in the 3 March 2021 issue of New Zealand Doctor Rata Aotearoa and has been republished with permission.

Current management of type 2 diabetes includes two new classes of medication, SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists, where clinically indicated. This article was published in the April 2021 edition of Kai Tiaki. It has been edited specifically for our nursing readership from an article that appeared in New Zealand Doctor and Pharmacy Today late in 2020. 

This article is endorsed by the College of Nurses Aotearoa (NZ) Inc.

Inequities exist in all aspects of diabetes care. In this article, Alesha Smith outlines some examples, proposes some actions, and explains where the new medicines fit in. 

This activity has been endorsed by The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (RNZCGP) and has been approved for up to 0.5 CME credits for the General Practice Educational Programme (GPEP) and Continuing Professional Development (CPD) purposes.