Up to two-thirds of people with type-2 diabetes do not achieve glycaemic targets, increasing their risk of serious complications. New global recommendations from The Global Partnership for Effective Diabetes Management offer practical, simple advice for the diabetes management team to help individuals reach glycaemic goals. The recommendations focus on four areas: achieving optimal glycaemic control, targeting the underlying pathophysiology of the disease, treating earlier and intensively with combination therapy, and adopting a holistic approach. This article reviews the new recommendations and suggests that they offer a route to achieving guideline-based targets and improving outcomes in the real-life healthcare setting.