Working Together to Manage Diabetes: A Guide for Pharmacists, Podiatrists, Optometrists and Dental Health Providers

Pharmacist, podiatrist, optometrist and dental care (PPOD) professionals are often a primary point of care for people with type 2 diabetes. These professionals play an important role in ensuring that diabetes care is continuous and patient centered. PPOD professionals can educate people with diabetes about the disease, encourage them to practice self management and refer those who require the care of other health professionals. The purpose of this lecture is to reinforce consistent diabetes messages and promote a team approach to comprehensive diabetes care that encourages collaboration among all diabetes care providers. Furthermore, many people with diabetes and those who are at risk do not regularly visit a primary care provider but may seek the services of a PPOD provider. PPOD providers are well positioned to deliver prevention messages, communicate the need for metabolic control and encourage multidisciplinary team diabetes care. When PPOD providers understand the diabetes care issues of other PPOD disciplines, they can recognize symptomatic concerns warranting timely referrals, reinforce annual screening recommendations and contribute to a proactive approach to diabetes care beyond the scope of their particular discipline.