RESUMO
Clinical practice guidelines should be drawn up with systematic methodology based on the best available evidence. Recommendations should be based on evaluation of the overall quality of the evidence and grading of the strength of recommendations. Consensus documents combine a review of the evidence with expert opinion in an attempt to reach some agreement in areas of uncertainty due to the lack of conclusive proof. The debate aroused by new treatments stimulates the production of documents advocating their use even when there are few long-term studies on their safety and efficacy. There are several methodologically rigorous international guidelines on diabetes (NGC, NICE, SIGN, CAD, ADA). The most recent debate has centered on the ADA-EASD treatment algorithm. In Spain, the production of clinical practice guidelines with analysis of the evidence and grading of recommendations remains scarce, although the most recent published guidelines show greater rigor. More common is the drafting of consensus documents by scientific societies with the aim of combining external evidence with experience and reflection. In Spain there are also organisms (such as GuíaSalud or Fisterra) that facilitate free access to guidelines drawn up by Spanish groups.
