Cardiometabolic disorders are the major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and are intrinsically linked with diabetes, a devastating disease affecting more than 400 million people. Diabetes is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease, end-stage renal disease, blindness and non-traumatic lower-limb amputation, as well as negatively affecting pregnancy outcomes and the nervous system. However, diabetes and its complications can be avoided. A huge number of people suffer from initial alterations in glucose metabolism, known as "pre-diabetes". These people are at higher risk of developing overt diabetes in the coming years, but evidence shows the progression towards diabetes can be halted. Prompt intervention, with significant changes in lifestyle and/or implementation of appropriate pharmacotherapy, are effective strategies to prevent diabetes in at-risk people. To facilitate this, healthcare professionals should be updated with the most recent and compelling evidence about diabetes prevention. For those with overt diabetes, relentless effort should be expended to avoid the debilitating complications of the disease and to increase life expectancy. Knowledge and understanding of the complex pharmacological mechanisms and their clinical implementation will facilitate successful management of diabetes.

Like diabetes, thyroid disorders are among the most prevalent endocrine diseases that also impact cardiovascular homeostasis. Unfortunately, a great number of patients with thyroid diseases are undiagnosed, contributing to increased morbidity and reduced quality of life. Therefore, there is a need for clear recommendations allowing for effective and prompt recognition of the most frequent thyroid disorders in order to adequately treat patients and avoid adverse clinical outcomes.

Finally, hypertension is still the primary cause of death in the world and medicine is far from establishing adequate control of this cardiovascular risk factor. Recently, new aggressive targets for antihypertensive treatment were proposed, but it is not clear if scientific evidence justifies this therapeutic strategy. Additional discussion surrounds the issue of applying the results of controlled clinical trials to daily life. The role of combination treatment in hypertension and recent novelties in the availability of fixed dose formulations will also be discussed.

EXCEMED is involved in a comprehensive educational blended journey to increase knowledge in cardiometabolic diseases. This programme will address the most recent advancements of research in the areas of cardiometabolic medicine and will discuss the best approaches for clinical management of the complex cardiometabolic patient in daily practice. A multistep approach will be used, encompassing web-based and live activities. All activities – in-person and online – will involve the full interactivity of learners.