Pharmacists on the Front Lines

?With the nation facing a growing epidemic of diabetes, pharmacists are critical not only to helping patients manage their disease, but also providing information about risks,? says Susan L. Guiterman, senior vice president for communications and external affairs of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores (NACDS). To aid the fight, NACDS has partnered with the FDA and the American Diabetes Association to mount the ?Take Time to Care? campaign conducted in local pharmacies from May 28 through June 22, 2002.

In all, some 250 free diabetes risk assessment events enabled participants to learn more about the disease itself, whether they have it, and what can be done to manage it. Pharmacists in 10 cities conducted clinical assessments for those already diagnosed with diabetes, which included a hemoglobin blood A_1c sugar test, a blood pressure test, and an individual consultation. Those not diagnosed with diabetes could take a pencil-and-paper ?risk? assessment and were urged to discuss the results with their pharmacist.

For more information, visit the NACDS web site at www.nacds.org.