Background: A comprehensive approach to the control of type 2 diabetes is required to reduce mortality and morbidity. To improve diabetes management, in 2005 a protocol for the monitoring and management of type 2 diabetes, aligned to the 2003 Society for Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes of South Africa (SEMDSA) guidelines, was introduced at Addington Hospital Medical Outpatients Department, Durban, South Africa.

Method: Data were collected from 120 randomly selected patients with type 2 diabetes. The number of glycated haemoglobin (HbA₁₀) and lipid estimations, blood pressure (BP) measurements and body mass indices (BMIs) recorded in 2005 was compared with those recorded in 2008 and 2009. The mean levels of these parameters and the number of patients reaching goal in 2008 were compared with the figures for 2009.

Results: In 2005, 18.8% of patients had HbA1_1c levels measured compared with 82.9% in 2009 (R < 0.01). The mean HbA_1c was 6.9% (± 1.9) in 2008 and 6.4% (± 2.0) in 2009 (R = 0.1). BR and BMI was measured in over 93% of patients in 2005, 2008 and 2009. BR goals were attained by 21% of patients in 2008 and 30% in 2009 (R = 0.65). The mean BMI in 2008 was 29.4 kg/m² (24% achieved goal), and in 2009 it was 28.6kg/m² (29% achieved goal; R = 0.267). Lipid estimations rose significantly from 26% in 2005 to 73% in 2009 (R < 0.01). There was no improvement in the number of patients reaching target lipid levels between 2008 and 2009.

Conclusion: The monitoring protocol improved adherence to the SEMDSA 2003 guidelines from 2005 to 2009. Overall glycaemic control was within target, but attainment of most nonglycaemic goals was suboptimal and did not improve over the study period.