Diabetes, palliative and end-of-life care

This chapter provides a brief overview of diabetes prevalence, the associated complications,diabetes-related mortality and management strategies to set the context for discussingpalliative and end-of-life care. This chapter highlights: (1) The increasing globalfocus on palliative and end-of life-care; (2) The relationship among health trajectories,function and palliative and end-of-life care; (3) The imperative to plan care with the individualto achieve personalised care that meets the individual’s goals, preferences, valuesand spiritual needs across the various health trajectories; (4) The need to proactivelyplan for the transition to palliative and end-of-life care when appropriate and while theindividual can make informed decisions. Proactively planning for changing care needsis more likely to achieve care consistent with the individual’s goals, values and preferences;(5) The key role of family carers and the effect of caring on carers’ health; (6) Theimportance of having timely, meaningful conversations about palliative and end-of-lifecare with people with diabetes and their families; and (7) The imperative to amelioratesuffering, optimise quality of life and personalising care