Community Pharmacists Guide Patients Through Complex Diabetes Therapies

In pharmacies across the United States, conversations about diabetes are happening in the aisles, at the counter, and over the phone—often long before a patient sits in a physician’s exam room. With more than 38 million Americans living with diabetes and millions more at risk due to obesity, family history, and social determinants of health, pharmacists are emerging as some of the most accessible front-line experts in prevention and management.

In this interview for Defeat Diabetes Month, Bri Murray, PharmD, BCACP, a clinical pharmacy specialist at Chase Brexton Health Care, describes how simply taking the time to get to know patients can uncover quiet warning signs—struggles with weight, family history of diabetes, or barriers like transportation and food access. Rather than waiting for a formal diagnosis, pharmacists can start the conversation early, offering education, resources, and reassurance.

Murray emphasizes that today’s diabetes care goes well beyond blood sugar control. Newer medications can protect the kidneys and the heart, yet many patients approach them with anxiety. By using plain language, explaining why a drug is recommended, and being transparent about adverse effects and evidence, pharmacists build the trust needed for patients to stay engaged in their care.

Technology is also reshaping the conversation. Continuous glucose monitors generate a flood of data and alerts that can overwhelm patients. Murray walks patients through realistic alert settings and sits with them to review 14-day glucose graphs, helping them connect what they eat with what they see on the screen.

From navigating insurance hurdles and warning against unregulated online pharmacies to connecting patients with social workers, copay assistance, and healthier food choices, meeting patients where they are is essential to reduce the long-term burden of diabetes.