- Encourage early screening. Of the 34.2 million people with diabetes, 1 in 4 don’t know they have the disease. Of the 86 million people with prediabetes, 90% don’t realize they have it. If in the prediabetes state, they may be able to bring their blood glucose levels under control with lifestyle, diet and medication.
- Individualize A1C goals. Although American Diabetes Association (ADA) guidelines recommend an A1C level of 7 or less for most people, setting realistic goals requires taking into account multiple factors, including the patient’s motivation, risks for hypoglycemia and other complications. In choosing recommendations for medications, multiple factors also come into play, including efficacy, cost and potential side effects.
- Discuss lifestyle changes. Talk with patients about their optimal weight. Keeping a daily food and activity diary can help them track their progress. Explain a new recommendation from the ADA about not sitting for more than 90 minutes, and encourage them to get 150 minutes of activity a week.
- Recommend resources. Be ready to recommend other resources, such as a senior center with activities where they may feel more comfortable exercising than a gym, a place where they can have a sleep study performed, and a behavioral health team if they may feel depressed. Since smoking increases the risk of diabetes by 30%, offer customers smoking cessation counseling and support or refer as needed. Offer recommendations for how they can break the triggers for their smoking and develop heathy habits.
- Check vaccinations. Check that a patient’s immunizations are up to date, including the pneumonia, shingles and hepatitis B vaccines.
- Watch for depression. Depression is also a complication with diabetes. Ask these two simple questions to signal whether to refer patients to their primary providers or a mental health professional: “Over the last two weeks, have you felt down, depressed or hopeless?” and “Over the last two weeks, have you felt little pleasure in doing things?”
- Improve testing. Often patients test their blood at the same time every day, which doesn’t give a complete picture of their glucose control. Over a month, Laciak recommends testing at a different time each week: morning, two hours after lunch, right before dinner, and at bedtime. That gives a more complete picture without the patient paying for extra test strips.
- Follow up in your workflow. MTM and med sync both offer time to talk with patients regularly about their diabetes. “Med sync triggers them to come in and see me every month, even if only for five minutes,” Laciak said. With med sync, for example, it’s easy for a pharmacist to recognize if a patient isn’t using a medication. The pharmacist can discover what the problem is and help to resolve it. During a comprehensive medication review (CMR), pharmacists can identify, resolve and prevent medication-related problems, including untreated conditions, improper drug selection and adverse drug reactions.
Diabetic Services
Diabetic Services: Comprehensive Support for Managing Diabetes
At Medrocs Pharmacy, we understand the challenges of managing diabetes. That’s why we offer a range of diabetic services to help you manage your condition and maintain your overall health.
Diabetes Management
Our experienced pharmacists are trained in diabetes management and can work with you to develop a personalized treatment plan. We offer a range of diabetic medication options and can help you select the right medication to manage your blood sugar levels. We also provide insulin delivery services and can help you choose the right insulin product for your needs.
Diabetic Supplies
We offer a variety of diabetic supplies to help you monitor your blood sugar levels and manage your diabetes. From blood glucose monitoring systems to diabetic testing supplies, we have everything you need to manage your condition at home. Our knowledgeable pharmacists can help you select the right supplies for your needs and provide guidance on how to use them.
Diabetes Education and Counseling
Managing diabetes can be challenging, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. We offer diabetes education and counseling services to help you better understand your condition and learn how to manage it effectively. Our experienced pharmacists can provide advice on diabetic diet and nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle changes that can help you maintain your overall health.
Diabetes Prevention
Preventing diabetes is an important part of maintaining your overall health. We offer diabetes prevention services to help you reduce your risk of developing diabetes. Our pharmacists can provide guidance on healthy lifestyle choices and offer support to help you maintain a healthy weight, eat a balanced diet, and get regular exercise.
According to 2020 CDC report, 34.2 million people of all ages or 10.5% of US population had diabetes.
Always follow the ‘4 Ms’ for diabetes self monitoring goals.
- Medication. Discuss any issues with adherence or side effects.
- Monitoring. Review the patient’s blood sugar log to identify patterns. Talk about figures being “above target” or “below target,” instead of saying, for example, that their blood sugar is “high.”
- Meals. Review the patient’s food diary and discuss any changes needed in calories or carbohydrates.
- Movement. Recognize the patient’s efforts to increase physical activity.
With such a high percentage of individuals affected by diabetes, Medrocs Pharmacy offers dedicated services to streamline diabetic care and maintenance.
We offer a complete line of products including:
- Blood and glucose meters
- Test strips
- Injection supplies
- Insulin
RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE PHARMACIST:
Visit Us Today
Don’t let diabetes control your life. Visit us today to learn more about our diabetic services and how we can help you manage your condition and maintain your overall health. Our experienced pharmacists are here to answer your questions and provide the support you need to stay healthy. Contact us today to schedule an appointment or learn more.
