COLUMN: Pharmacists offer crucial support in managing diabetes

As a pharmacist in Orillia, I’ve been fortunate to help many individuals navigate their health journeys, including those living with diabetes.

Diabetes impacts a large portion of our population, with approximately 4.79 million people in Ontario living with diabetes or prediabetes. Surprisingly, many people are unaware of the crucial role pharmacists play in the health-care team for Type 2 diabetes management.

Beyond filling prescriptions and glucometer training, pharmacists can act as a convenient point of contact between doctor visits.

Regardless of whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been managing diabetes for years, your pharmacist is a valuable resource for support and guidance in managing your condition.

Tips for the Newly Diagnosed

Discovering you have diabetes can feel overwhelming and daunting. However, with an effective care plan and solid support network in place, you can regain control of your health. Here are a few tips to help you begin:

Build your care team: Along with your doctor, your pharmacist plays an important role as a trusted and easily accessible healthcare provider, offering a range of services to help improve patient outcomes, beyond medication management.

We can provide diabetes self-management education related to diet, lifestyle and exercise and we can help patients monitor their progress along the way. This is particularly valuable to those in underserved areas where other resources may be limited or for patients who are unable to travel for care.

Prioritize monitoring: Monitoring your health regularly is essential for managing diabetes. Keeping track of your diet, A1C, cholesterol, blood pressure, and BMI can help prevent complications and keep you feeling your best. Conducting regular lab tests is a vital part of diabetes management.

How Pharmacists Can Support

Pharmacists provide support through educational guidance and assistance with medication and lifestyle management, to help you reach your health goals. Here are some key ways we can assist:

Diabetes education – Managing diabetes is about more than blood sugar—it’s about whole-body health.

During a diabetes consultation, we can cover essential topics like eye health, foot care, nutrition, sick day management, vaccinations, preventing hypoglycemia, setting diabetes targets, self-monitoring of blood glucose, and proper injection site rotation.

These are all key to staying healthy and preventing complications. Think pharmacist for personalized advice to keep you on track!

A1C and lipid testing – Regular lab tests are vital for diabetes management.

Additional insights into how well your blood sugar levels are controlled between lab tests can come from self-monitoring your blood glucose at home, or A1C and lipid testing done with your local pharmacist to help track progress between doctor’s visits. Lab tests are also important in order to make timely adjustments to your care plan, if necessary.

Your pharmacist can also help you monitor your blood pressure in addition to your BMI, which you can track on the PC Health App.

Managing diabetes can be challenging due to the need for consistent and ongoing care. This is where your local pharmacist can step in, as we are uniquely equipped to offer accessible and personalized support that seamlessly integrates into your daily routine. With extended hours, we also offer a convenient option to access the care you need, whenever you need it.

If you haven’t done so yet, take a moment to visit your local pharmacy and explore the range of services available to you. Whether it’s support for your heart health or simply discussing your medications, we’re here to assist you. We are honoured to be your diabetes care partner.

BiQi He is the pharmacist and owner at the Shoppers Drug Mart in Orillia. Visit ShoppersDrugMart.ca to find your nearest pharmacy.