These Guiding Principles for Diabetes Care: For Health Care Professionals provide an overview of the key elements of early and intensive clinical diabetes care and prevention. They form the basis of the National Diabetes Education Program's (NDEP's) public and professional awareness programs. The principles are based on the best level of evidence available, and key sources are noted. The NDEP adopts guidelines developed by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), and many have been incorporated into these guiding principles. Numerous other guidelines are available and some are noted in this document. It is essential that in practice, health care professionals focus on the similarities rather than the differences in diabetes-related guidelines. This document also provides links to supporting resources and further information. As the proportion of both minority populations and people aged 60 and older increases in the United States, and the obesity epidemic continues, people with diabetes are becoming a larger part of the practices of family physicians and other primary care clinicians. Health care professionals involved in new or expanding diabetes care practices can use these guiding principles to ensure that they provide essential components of comprehensive diabetes care. In addition, health care payers, managed care organizations, and large employers can use this information to establish diabetes care principles and to assure quality diabetes care and treatment options in health plans. NDEP encourages people with or at risk for diabetes and their families to participate actively with their health care team to plan and implement their care. While these principles serve as a guide for diabetes prevention and management, each person and his or her health care team should determine a specific prevention or management plan. Team care is essential for effective diabetes prevention and management. Team structure is best determined by the practice setting. Teams should be led by the most appropriate health care professional, and may include primary care physicians, diabetes educators, endocrinologists, dietitians, nurses, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, physician assistants, psychologists, dental professionals, exercise professionals, social workers, specialists for care of the eye, foot, heart, and kidney, and others as necessary. Many of these team members also may be certified diabetes educators. Trained lay educators such as "promotores" and community health workers can be effective team members. Other elements of importance to the delivery of diabetes care, in addition to team care, such as creating a patient registry, assessing practice needs, implementing processes of care, connecting to community resources, and evaluating outcomes are presented in detail on www.BetterDiabetesCare.nih.gov. This website provides tools and resources to help health care professionals implement systems changes. Early identification and management of pre-diabetes can delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes. In people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, ongoing comprehensive diabetes care, including the ABCs of diabetes (A1C for glucose, Blood pressure, and Cholesterol), can prevent or control diabetes-related microvascular and macrovascular complications. With proper medical management, education, self-care, and attention to behavior, social, and environmental factors, people with diabetes and pre-diabetes can live long, active, and productive lives.