What are the recommended follow-up protocols for patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome?

Recommended follow-up protocols for patients diagnosed with metabolic syndrome include:

• Regular monitoring of cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure, lipid profile, and blood glucose levels to detect progression towards type 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease.
• Assessment of body weight and waist circumference periodically to evaluate obesity status and related risk, with particular attention to waist circumference thresholds indicating high or very high risk (men: >94 cm high risk, >102 cm very high risk; women: >80 cm high risk, >88 cm very high risk).
• Implementation of lifestyle interventions focusing on diet modification and increased physical activity, with ongoing support to sustain behaviour change, as these can halve the progression from impaired glucose tolerance to type 2 diabetes.
• Engagement in shared decision-making with patients about their care, ensuring they understand the risks and benefits of interventions and are supported in making informed choices.
• For patients with hyperglycaemia but no diabetes diagnosis, offer HbA1c and fasting glucose testing to identify those at high risk of developing diabetes, with follow-up testing as appropriate.

These follow-up protocols aim to prevent progression to type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular events by addressing the common risk factors inherent in metabolic syndrome through regular monitoring and lifestyle modification support ¹,².