Pharmacist-Run Diabetes Clinics

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As the gap between reaching optimal medication therapy for diabetes management grows, so does the need for improved medical centers. But how does this happen? If pharmacists were to “utilize their clinical expertise in monitoring and managing diabetes medication plans to positively impact health outcomes and empower patients to actively manage their health,” then the number of people with diabetes could decline (Smith, 2009). Pharmacists are highly accessible medical professionals that are not used to their full potential (Smith, 2009). They are an essential component of the American health system that could easily educate patients struggling with diabetes (Shane-McWhorter, 2005). The implementation of pharmacist-managed diabetes clinics have been proven to lower the blood glucose levels of patients, cost of medication, and mortality rate of its’ patients.
Diabetes
As of the year 2011, 28.8 million people living in the United States were suffering from diabetes. This accounts for 8.3% of the US population (CDC, 2011). While this number may seem small, diabetes is a rapidly growing disease that needs a solution given that it is the seventh leading cause of death. According to the American Diabetes Association, (A.D.A.), diabetes is a condition in which the pancreas is unable to produce the amount of insulin needed to convert food, sugars, and starches to energy for the body. Therefore, the blood sugar levels rise, also known as hyperglycemia. There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes is commonly found in children or young adults and only makes up 5% of diabetes cases. A person with Type 1 diabetes does not produce insulin at all. Type 2 diabetes is the more common form of the disease. People who struggle...

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... educators and diabetes disease managers. Rhode Island Medical Journal, 95(9), 275-276. Retrieved from http://www.rimed.org/2012-09.asp
Leal, S., Herrier, R.N., Glover, J.J., & Felix, A. (2004). Improving quality of care in diabetes through a comprehensive pharmacist-based disease management program. Diabetes Care, 27(12), 2983-2984. Retrieved from http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content
Shane-McWhorter, L. (2005). The Scope and Standards for the Practice of Diabetes Education by Pharmacists. diabeteseducator.org. Retrieved August 30, 2013, from http://www.diabeteseducator.org/export/sites/aade/_resources/pdf/PharmDScopeStandards .pdf
Smith, M. (2009). Pharmacists’ role in improving diabetes medication management. Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology, 3(1), 175-179. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2769842/

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