TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Nov. 6, 2014) - November is Diabetes Awareness Month and this year, the Ontario Pharmacists Association is reminding people of the role pharmacists play in managing diabetes effectively and safely seven days a week.
Diabetes, a disease in which the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body does not properly use the insulin it makes, affects more than nine million Canadians.
"People living with diabetes know how important it is to ensure they are appropriately monitoring their blood sugar and that they are taking their medications properly - in the right way, at the right time and at the right dosage," says Dennis Darby, CEO, Ontario Pharmacists Association. "Pharmacists play a critical role in helping patients with diabetes management, thanks to MedsCheck for Diabetes, a program funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, which enables any Ontario patient with type 1 or type 2 diabetes to participate in a free one-on-one consultation with their community pharmacist to optimize their care and treatment plans."
The MedsCheck program was launched in 2007 to leverage pharmacists' knowledge and expertise in medication management by enabling them review their patients' prescription and non-prescription medications, assess their use, appropriateness, and challenges, and answer any questions patients may have. In 2010, the Ontario Government added three new services to the MedsCheck program, including MedsCheck for Diabetes, MedsCheck at Home and MedsCheck for Long-Term Care.
The MedsCheck for Diabetes program is provided specifically to Ontario patients living with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and is an opportunity to engage patients in a focused medication review that would also include guidance on diet, exercise, weight management and foot and vision care, as well as education and training on blood glucose monitoring, the importance of management of other risk factors such as hypertension, high cholesterol, and tobacco use. And as with other MedsCheck services, the diabetes program will ensure that uses of your prescription and non-prescription medications are appropriate and that they do not interact with each other.
"Pharmacists, as front line providers of primary health care, offer a wide range of services beyond dispensing that help keep Ontarians healthy and safe," says Darby. "To celebrate Diabetes Awareness Month, we urge all Ontario residents living with to speak with their pharmacy team member to find out more about this program and how their pharmacists can help them receive the most benefit from their medications."
About the Ontario Pharmacists Association
The Ontario Pharmacists Association is committed to evolving the pharmacy profession, and advocating for excellence in practice and optimum health care for all Ontario patients. As the largest advocacy organization, and continuing education and drug information provider for pharmacy professionals in Canada, the Association represents more than 17,500 pharmacists, pharmacy students, and pharmacy technicians across Ontario. By leveraging the unique expertise of pharmacy professionals, by enabling them to practice to their fullest potential, and by making them more accessible to all Ontarians, OPA and its more than 8,500 members are working to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the province's healthcare system.
Contact Information:
Lindsay George
Manager, Communications and Membership
416-441-0788/877-341-0788 ext. 4236
lgeorge@opatoday.com