Managing Diabetic Patients in Multidisciplinary Healthcare: The Role of Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, Preventive Medicine, and Emergency Services

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus represents a global health crisis requiring comprehensive preventive strategies across primary, secondary, and tertiary stages of care. This study examines evidence-based preventive medicine approaches for diabetic patients, emphasizing risk reduction, early detection, and complication management. Primary prevention strategies, including lifestyle interventions modeled after the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and targeted metformin use, demonstrate 31–58% reductions in diabetes incidence among high-risk populations. Secondary prevention focuses on glycemic control (HbA1c <7%), multifactorial risk management (blood pressure, lipids), and routine screenings for microvascular complications, which collectively reduce morbidity by 25–85%. Tertiary prevention employs multidisciplinary care for advanced complications, such as diabetic foot teams and cardiac rehabilitation. Innovative approaches, including digital health tools and precision medicine, show promise but face implementation barriers like inequitable access and insufficient reimbursement. A paradigm shift toward integrated, patient-centered prevention is critical to mitigate the growing diabetes burden.