Pharmacists Shifting from Reactive to Proactive Diabetes Counselors

When it comes to providing valued diabetes care in the US, pharmacists’ roles have expanded significantly within the past decade. Transforming from medication experts and dispensers to diabetes care specialists and counselors, pharmacists have stepped up to become proactive clinical resources for patients looking to improve diabetes outcomes.

“It's that fundamental shift towards proactive care, and also [the] patient-focused clinical role that [pharmacists] have been advocating for and we've been contributing to,” Clipper F. Young, PharmD, MPH, CDCES, BC-ADM, BCGP, associate professor of osteopathic medicine at Touro University California, told Drug Topics. “The evolution has been really driven by a few things.”

With over 12 years of experience in pharmacy working as a diabetes specialist and educator, Young has seen the recent evolution of pharmacists’ roles within diabetes management. He recently joined Drug Topics to discuss this evolution more in-depth as well as the various factors and events that have led to pharmacists as authoritative providers helping millions of patients manage diabetes.

In part 1 of our interview, Young explored his personal experiences in the pharmacy industry and how pharmacists have taken unique and creative approaches to improving diabetes outcomes amid a landscape of constricted pharmacist scope.

Learn from a pharmacist and diabetes expert that has seen this evolution in real time. Also, stay tuned for more from our conversation with Young, who also explored some of the groundbreaking initiatives that are impacting communities in regard to diabetes care and so much more.

READ MORE: Diabetes Resource Center

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