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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Erin Wendel,
202.429.7558, ewendel@aphanet.org
October 29, 2008
Pharmacists Help Patients Understand and Better
Manage Their Diabetes
WASHINGTON, DC – The American Pharmacists Association
(APhA) wants consumers, particularly those with diabetes, to talk to
their pharmacist during November’s Diabetes Awareness Month.
According to the American Diabetes
Association, there are 23.6 million people in the United
States, or 8% of the population, who
have diabetes, an increase of 13.5 percent from 2005. As the prevalence
of diabetes rises at an alarming rate, pharmacists are playing a
critical role in helping patients manage the disease.
“The pharmacy profession is moving beyond the traditional
compounding and dispensing of medication towards a more active role in
patient counseling and medication therapy management, specifically in
patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes,” said John A.
Gans, APhA’s executive vice president and CEO.
Pharmacists are in a unique position to help patients manage their
diabetes since they are among the most accessible and trusted health
care providers. Many are now trained to provide an array of clinical
diabetes management patient care services ranging from monitoring
medications and blood glucose levels to nutrition counseling and
assistance with choosing over-the-counter products. Working in
conjunction with a patient’s physician and other healthcare team
members, pharmacists are able to help prevent the often times serious
consequences of diabetes and overall healthcare costs associated with
the disease.
Diabetes management programs such as the one employed by Rite Aid pharmacies is one of
the many examples of how pharmacists are providing frontline care for
people with diabetes. Other programs, including the American Pharmacists
Association Foundation’s Diabetes Ten City
Challenge (DTCC), an employer-based diabetes self-management
program, haves shown that working with a pharmacist coach contributes to
improved overall health, reduced absenteeism, shortened hospital stays
and reduced healthcare costs.
“Diabetes is a serious disease but one that can be managed
through proper patient education and monitoring,” said William
Ellis, APhA Foundation CEO. “Through a collaborative health care
team approach, pharmacists can help patients understand the importance
of eating well, exercising regularly and taking their medications as
prescribed so they can live longer, healthier lives.”
About the American Pharmacists Association
(APhA)
The American Pharmacists
Association, founded in 1852 as the American Pharmaceutical
Association, represents more than 63,000 practicing pharmacists,
pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists, pharmacy technicians,
and others interested in advancing the profession. APhA, dedicated to
helping all pharmacists improve medication use and advance patient care,
is the first-established and largest association of pharmacists in the
United
States. APhA members provide care
in all practice settings, including community pharmacies, hospitals,
long-term care facilities, managed care organizations, hospice settings,
and the uniformed services.
About the APhA Foundation
The APhA Foundation is a not for profit 501(c)(3) organization
headquartered in Washington, D.C., and is affiliated with the American
Pharmacists Association (APhA), the oldest and largest national
professional society of pharmacists in the United States. The APhA
Foundation provides innovative programs and projects that contribute to
new information and fresh ideas for pharmacists to use in retooling
their practices to satisfy the contemporary health needs of their
patients. For more information, please visit the APhA Foundation
website www.aphafoundation.org, or the
campaign website at www.homeofpharmacy.org.
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