Physicians Looking to Pharmacists for Patient Engagement in Diabetes Management | ADA 2025

With the access and trust they have garnered within the US health care system, physicians and other primary care providers are now looking to pharmacists to assist in boosting patient engagement efforts in diabetes management.

“Patient Engagement, specifically in diabetes, is a huge issue and a challenge,” said Jon Easter, RPh, associate faculty director at the University of North Carolina Center for the Business of Health. “I think that is one of the things that health insurers and payers are looking at pharmacy to help them solve. I think primary care physicians, specifically, are looking to pharmacists to help solve that patient engagement issue as well.”

At the American Diabetes Association’s 85th Scientific Sessions, Easter hosted a presentation titled “Adding Pharmacists to the Team—Enhancing Access and Patient Engagement for Better Outcomes.” All within the realm of diabetes management, Easter joined Drug Topics following his session to provide further insights into the pharmacists’ role.

“Thinking about patients having worse outcomes in diabetes in rural areas, and then those health-provider shortage areas, there is a real opportunity for pharmacy to step up, engage patients around their medications as well as nutrition and their activity and lifestyle management.”

Watch part 2 of our interview with Easter as he delves into the pharmacist’s unique role on the diabetes care team and their heightened abilities to facilitate patient engagement and patient-provider relationships.

Read more from our coverage of the ADA’s 85th Scientific Sessions.

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