Although difficult to maintain, intensive diabetes management has proven very effective and is now the rule, rather than the exception, in diabetes care. People who use this method of diabetes management must be closely aligned with their health care team and highly motivated because it not only requires close scrutiny of blood glucose levels, but also constant monitoring of food intake and medication dosage, among other things. Virtually all patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes can improve their glycemic control and overall health through intensive diabetes management.

Intensive Diabetes Management emphasizes a team approach to patient care and offers guidance in helping patients move toward treatment goals appropriate for their individual skills and medical condition. Individual sections address all of the key topics in intensive diabetes management, including rationale/physiological basis, team approach, education, pyschosocial issues, patient selection/goals of therapy, insulin regimens, insulin pump therapy, monitoring, and nutrition management.