Diabetes Management at the Pharmacy: Interventions, Adherence, and Technology

A Special Issue of Pharmacy (ISSN 2226-4787) belonging to the section "Pharmacy Practice and Practice-Based Research".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 October 2026 | Viewed by 4483

Editor


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Guest Editor
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ulster, Belfast, UK
Interests: clinical pharmacy; medicines optimisation; diabetes care; digital health; pharmacy education

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Diabetes mellitus represents a global health challenge, requiring continuous, lifelong management. Pharmacists, with their accessibility and expertise, are uniquely positioned to bridge gaps in the healthcare system and play a pivotal role in improving diabetes care. The evolving scope of pharmacy practice now extends beyond dispensing to include direct patient care services, chronic disease management, and the integration of innovative technologies. This shift is expected to enhance patient education, improve medication adherence, and lead to better overall health outcomes. However, the real-world impact, scalability, and sustainability of these pharmacy-based interventions require further robust investigation. This Special Issue aims to provide a comprehensive evidence base that informs clinical practice, health policy, and future research to optimise patient-centred diabetes care.

We welcome the submission of original research articles, insightful perspectives, and review articles that address, but are not limited to, the following themes:

  • Pharmacist-Led Interventions and Services:
    • Clinical outcomes of structured diabetes education, counselling, and management programmes.
    • Models for point-of-care testing (e.g., HbA1c, lipid profiling) and their impact on clinical decision making.
    • Collaborative Drug Therapy Management and pharmacist-prescribing initiatives for diabetes medications.
    • Screening and management of diabetes-related complications (e.g., hypertension, neuropathy, foot care).
    • Implementation science: studies on the scalability, sustainability, and barriers to implementing diabetes services in diverse pharmacy practice settings (community, clinic, hospital).
  • Medication and Lifestyle Adherence:
    • Studies evaluating the effectiveness of adherence-enhancing programmes.
    • Analysis of factors influencing adherence to antidiabetic medications, glucose monitoring, and lifestyle recommendations.
    • The role of the pharmacist in managing therapeutic inertia and facilitating timely treatment intensification.
    • Economic impact of improved adherence within pharmacist-managed care models.
  • Technology and Innovation:
    • The use of telehealth and telepharmacy for remote diabetes monitoring and consultation.
    • Evaluation of mobile health (mHealth) applications, wearable devices, and digital tools for patient self-management and data sharing with pharmacists.
    • The integration of pharmacy data with electronic health records (EHRs) to improve care coordination.
    • Artificial intelligence (AI) and clinical decision support systems for identifying at-risk patients and optimising medication regimens in pharmacy practice.
    • Assessing patient and pharmacist perceptions, usability, and digital literacy regarding new technologies.

Dr. Mohamed Hassan Elnaem
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • diabetes
  • adherence
  • digital health
  • pharmacist-led
  • interventions
  • community pharmacy
  • artificial intelligence

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 235 KB  
Article
Exploring Community Pharmacists’ Awareness, Attitudes, and Experiences with Digital Health Technologies: A Focus on Mobile Applications for Diabetes Mellitus Self-Management
by Dušan Vukmirović, Dušanka Krajnović and Marina Odalović
Pharmacy 2026, 14(2), 39; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy14020039 - 2 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1410
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus is a growing global health challenge, and digital health technologies offer new opportunities to support self-management. Mobile applications can benefit both patients and healthcare professionals; however, awareness and integration of these tools into community pharmacy practice remain limited. As accessible frontline [...] Read more.
Diabetes mellitus is a growing global health challenge, and digital health technologies offer new opportunities to support self-management. Mobile applications can benefit both patients and healthcare professionals; however, awareness and integration of these tools into community pharmacy practice remain limited. As accessible frontline providers, pharmacists are well positioned to promote digital health, yet their readiness and engagement require further investigation. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among community pharmacists in Serbia using a structured questionnaire. Developed through a consensus-based process, the instrument assessed pharmacists’ awareness, attitudes, and experiences with digital health technologies, focusing on mobile applications for diabetes self-management. Only 15.8% of pharmacists were aware of such applications, and 2.4% reported receiving relevant training. Higher digital health technology literacy was associated with greater awareness, confidence, and preference for digital learning. Most participants supported expanding pharmacists’ roles in advising patients on digital tools and expressed interest in structured education and official guidance. These findings indicate limited awareness and training in mobile health applications among community pharmacists. Enhancing digital competencies through targeted education and structured guidance may facilitate greater integration of digital tools into routine pharmacy practice and strengthen pharmacists’ roles in chronic disease management. Full article

Review

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17 pages, 595 KB  
Review
Prevalence and Association of Polypharmacy and Potentially Inappropriate Medications Among Older Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
by Raniah A. Aljaizani, Arwa A. Althumairi, Khalid A. Alamer and Shakil Ahmad
Pharmacy 2026, 14(3), 65; https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy14030065 - 28 Apr 2026
Viewed by 2295
Abstract
Older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at high risk of polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use because of multimorbidity and complex treatment regimens. This systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA 2020; PROSPERO CRD420251149348) aimed to estimate the prevalence of polypharmacy [...] Read more.
Older adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are at high risk of polypharmacy and potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use because of multimorbidity and complex treatment regimens. This systematic review and meta-analysis (PRISMA 2020; PROSPERO CRD420251149348) aimed to estimate the prevalence of polypharmacy and PIM use, describe PIM burden and patterns, and summarize the co-occurrence of PIMs among those with polypharmacy. On 7 September 2025, we searched PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and MEDLINE using a structured search strategy based on the PICO framework. Observational studies of older adults (≥65 years) with T2DM reporting polypharmacy and PIMs were included. Risk of bias was assessed using the JBI checklist, and prevalence estimates were synthesized using a random-effects meta-analysis. Five studies (13,350 participants) were included. Polypharmacy prevalence ranged from 43.6% to 95.3%, while PIM prevalence ranged from 23.4% to 74%. The co-occurrence of PIMs among polypharmacy users ranged from 39.6% to 74%. Commonly reported PIM classes included long-acting sulfonylureas, proton pump inhibitors, and benzodiazepines. Overall, polypharmacy and PIM use were frequently reported among older adults with T2DM; however, the wide variation in prevalence across studies indicates substantial clinical and methodological heterogeneity. These findings highlight the need for structured medication review and clinical context-based medication optimization beyond numerical thresholds. Full article
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