A Pharmacist's Role in Diabetes

Pharmacists have in important role in diabetes care. In addition to dispensing drugs, pharmacists function as educators, promoting health literacy. Pharmacists also review doctors' orders and instruct patients on how to follow them correctly.

Dispensing Medications

• Pharmacists ensure that patients with diabetes receive the correct medications as ordered by their doctors.

Preventing Drug Reactions

• Many patients with diabetics also take medications for unrelated health issues. Pharmacists double-check all prescribed medications for possible drug interactions that may harm the patient. This double-checking is especially important for patients who have prescriptions from multiple doctors.

Providing Professional Expertise

• The pharmacist is most familiar with all of the prescription medications prescribed for a patient. Thus the pharmacist may be the patient's last line of protection from harmful drug interactions.

Educating Patients

• Pharmacists have a responsibility to ensure that patients understand how and when to take medicine and how to detect problems with medications.

Ensuring Comprehension

• Pharmacists face the challenge of determining the needs of patients with diabetes who are filling prescriptions and making sure patients understand their instructions. This is especially important for elderly patients who commonly have prescriptions for multiple medications and may become easily confused about how and when to use their medications.

Explaining Product Function

• Pharmacists must help patients understand the products available and their roles in controlling diabetes. These products include medications, such as various types of insulin, as well as devices such as blood glucose meters.