Today's Perspective
Kristin Wiisanen PharmD, FAPhA, FCCP, Pharmacy Today editor in chief
Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems have become a mainstay of diabetes care. CGM can help patients better manage their glucose levels, have fewer hypoglycemia episodes, and require fewer finger sticks. Roughly half of patients with T1D are estimated to use CGM today, up from approximately 20% a decade ago. CGM is used by about 10% to 15% of patients with T2D, with many of these individuals not requiring intensive insulin therapy.
Increased accessibility of CGM technology is creating patient education opportunities for pharmacists, highlighted in this month’s Pharmacy Today cover story. “It’s important for pharmacists to know what options are out there and what might be the best to recommend for each specific patient,” said Diana Isaacs, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, BCADM at Cleveland Clinic Endocrinology and Metabolism Institute. Pharmacist involvement in CGM improves patients’ health behaviors and ability to manage their food intake to optimize blood glucose levels.
Get important patient education points and tips for staying up to date with CGM technology with this month’s issue.
In this issue of Today, you’ll also find info on the new antibiotic option for UTIs along with updated treatment recommendations and get the latest on mushroom tinctures. Review the most recent immunization guidelines from CDC, learn about pharmacist opportunities in hepatitis B screening and vaccination, and catch up on your CPE with this month’s article highlighting new recommendations in the 2025 diabetes care guidelines.
Lifestyle changes and decision making based on real-time data are crucial to better outcomes in patients with diabetes. Because of this, patient education about CGM drives behavior change. Help your patients by increasing your knowledge about CGM with APhA’s new certificate training program for community pharmacists. Learn more at www.pharmacist.com/education.
Have a great Today! ■