Partnering with patients to promote holistic diabetes management: Changing paradigms

PURPOSE: To provide a review of best practice for clinical management of diabetes mellitus (DM) for nurse practitioners (NPs) and accelerate incorporation of key findings into current practice. DATA SOURCE: A search was conducted in Pub Med, Ovid, CINAHL, and Cochrane's Database of Systematic Reviews. CONCLUSIONS: There are many challenges for DM care identified in the current health system. There is a great need to change care paradigms to engage patients in partnership for enhanced management and self-management in DM. A review of the best practice evidence revealed numerous models of care, strategies, and tools available to enhance diabetes care and promote health and well-being. The primary focus of this article is to engage NP clinicians to incorporate new strategies to augment management and improve clinical outcomes. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Incorporation of best practice for DM management may accelerate the paradigm shift to more patient-focused care. Engaged, informed, and activated patients along with clinicians working in partnerships may enhance clinical outcomes.