Empowering Pharmacists in Type 2 Diabetes Care: Opportunities for Prevention, Counseling, and Therapeutic Optimization

Abstract

Diabetes is a growing chronic disease with complications that impose a significant burden on healthcare systems worldwide. Pharmacists are readily accessible for diabetes management beyond simply dispensing medications. Consequently, they are involved in disease prevention and detection, therapy management, and patient monitoring. However, with the current escalating impact of diabetes, pharmacists must upgrade their strategies by integrating guidelines from sources like the American Diabetes Association (ADA) 2024 with pharmacy expertise. This perspective serves as a guide for pharmacists, identifying key foundations involved in diabetes management, highlighting five crucial steps for optimal disease control, ranging from prevention strategies to pharmacist-led counseling interventions. We employed PubMed, CDC, WHO guidelines, and key reference texts. Searches were performed using combinations of terms such as "pharmacist", "type 2 diabetes", "diabetes prevention", "pharmacist intervention", and "diabetes management", covering publications from January 2010 to March 2025. Studies were included if they focused on pharmacist-led prevention, intervention, or management strategies related to type 2 diabetes (T2D) and were published in English. Studies focusing exclusively on type 1 diabetes were excluded. Generative artificial intelligence was employed to order and structure information as described in the acknowledgments. Conflicting evidence was resolved by giving relevance to recent systematic reviews, randomized trials, and major guidelines. Additional insights were gained through consultations with PharmD professionals experienced in diabetes care. Evidence from selected studies suggests that pharmacist-led care models may enhance and promote the early detection of T2D, improve therapy adherence, enhance glycemic control, and increase overall treatment efficiency. This work suggests that pharmacists must play a key role in diagnosing, preventing, managing, and mitigating the consequences associated with T2D. They must contribute to early treatments with appropriate training and involvement to improve therapeutic outcomes and reduce diabetes-related complications.

Keywords: diabetes mellitus; disease management; intervention; pharmacists; preventive medicine; type 2 diabetes.

Figure 1

The Plate Method illustrates a visual approach to balanced eating for managing diabetes. A plate is divided into three compartments, with half of the plate designated for non-starchy vegetables (leafy greens, broccoli, and peppers), one quarter of the plate for lean protein (chicken, fish, tofu, or eggs), and one quarter of the plate for carbohydrates (whole grains, starchy vegetables, or legumes). The Plate Method encourages a balanced intake of nutrients and portion control, which involves following dietary recommendations to help manage blood glucose levels. A small serving of healthy fats and water, or low-calorie beverages, is also recommended as part of the meal. Image generated and formatted using Canva (www.canva.com, accessed on 16 March 2025), a graphic design platform.

Figure 2

Timeline: pharmacist-led diabetes care trajectory. This timeline illustrates the pharmacist’s scope of care in managing T2D. It encompasses early risk assessment and diagnostic support through pharmacist participation, which involves identifying at-risk individuals, interpreting laboratory values, and recommending follow-up diagnostic assessments. This extends to clinical interventions, including their recommendations or dose adjustments for medications while considering comorbidities and clinical guidelines, as well as patient education on lifestyle changes, medication use, and device training to ensure adherence to pharmacotherapy. Monitoring and follow-up include therapy modifications and the management of adverse events, while long-term complications primarily depend on adherence, effective care coordination, and timely consultations with specialists. This figure was created in BioRender by Alshahrouri, B. (www.biorender.com/j553ie7, May 2025), a graphic design platform.