Current epidemiological data suggest that the prevalence of diabetes in Canada is increasing. Patients with poor glycemic control are more prone to oral manifestations of diabetes, including periodontal disease, salivary gland dysfunction, halitosis, burning mouth sensation, delayed wound healing and increased susceptibility to infections. Diabetic patients are also at risk of experiencing an intraoperative diabetic emergency in the dental office. Therefore, dentists must appreciate and implement important dental management considerations while providing care to diabetic patients. In this article, we discuss the diagnosis, oral findings, dental care and emergency management of diabetic patients.