Diabetes careOct 2, 2026

Guidelines for Managing Type 2 Diabetes in 2026 from the American and European Diabetes Associations

GLP-1 Therapies Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗

Updated Oct 3, 2026

Abstract

The update emphasizes holistic management of type 2 diabetes and its associated long-term conditions.

Recommendations now include a focus on promoting healthy lifestyle choices, such as nutrition and physical activity.
Psychological support and weight management interventions are identified as fundamental components of diabetes care.
Earlier use of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) therapies is suggested to enhance organ protection.
Combination therapy with SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 therapies may be beneficial for patients with cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, or heart failure.
The potential to improve outcomes for individuals with type 2 diabetes hinges on equitable implementation of existing strategies and therapies.

Simplified

The American Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes convened a panel to update the consensus statement on the management of type 2 diabetes in nonpregnant adults, published since 2006 and last updated in 2022. The target audience is the multidisciplinary health care team providing diabetes care in the U.S. and Europe. A systematic examination of publications since 2022 informed new recommendations. This update has broadened the focus from the management of hyperglycemia to the holistic management of type 2 diabetes and its risk of associated multiple long-term conditions. Fundamental aspects of diabetes care include promoting healthy lifestyle behaviors (healthy eating, 24-h physical behaviors including sleep, and avoiding tobacco and substance use), alongside the provision of psychological support and weight management interventions. For the management of people living with type 2 diabetes, earlier use, potentially from diagnosis, of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and/or glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1)-based therapies to offer organ protection and improve long-term outcomes in type 2 diabetes is advocated. Furthermore, earlier combination use of SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1-based therapies should be considered in people with concomitant cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and heart failure. Finally, the ability to transform outcomes for people living with type 2 diabetes is within our grasp through the consistent, equitable, and systematic implementation of strategies and therapies that are already available.