Interdisciplinary Approach in the Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 from Theory to Practice

Abstract

The need of interdisciplinary teams in health care has been very well recognized and has been incorporated into daily practice. Chronic non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, have a multifactorial etiology, many difficulties in achieving the therapeutic goals, the need for specific advice on different topics, and the interplay between many health professionals, as part of the treatment. Many studies have pointed out that a multidisciplinary approach represents an effective tool for achieving adequate metabolic control and for reducing the risk factors associated with diabetic complications. In spite of the efficiency and better results associated with an interdisciplinary approach when compared to a conventional one, the development and implementation of an interdisciplinary team represent a great challenge. This article aims to report the experience of the university extension program “Acompanhamento, Educação e Prevenção em Diabetes Mellitus” of the Service of Endocrinology of the University Hospital of the Federal University of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais.