Weekly Comment 06 Mar 17: Pharmacy’s role in diabetes care
March 6, 2017
This week's contributor is Teresa Di Franco, Pharmacist and CDE, Perth Diabetes Care. THE role of pharmacy in supporting people with diabetes is multi-faceted. Pharmacists play a very important role in the direct support of patients with diabetes as well in liaising with other diabetes healthcare professionals in their local community. They also play a role in providing advice on the quality use of medicines, ensuring up to date resources are available in the pharmacy, initiating important conversations supported by these resources, stocking a wide range of NDSS consumables and being aware of their correct use. For example, recent updates in relation to insulin injection technique and needle lengths (FITTER*) should be followed when counselling patients with diabetes. The FITTER recommendations, including the Golden Rules of injection technique, can be accessed HERE. Pharmacists should embrace in-pharmacy programs that provide an opportunity to engage or re-engage people in the community regarding their diabetes management. It is essential that all healthcare professionals who are treating people with diabetes are delivering consistent messages to ensure holistic support and optimised treatment outcomes.
*FITTER stands for the Forum for Injection Technique & Therapy Expert Recommendations and is an international program sponsored by BD.
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