November 14 marks World Diabetes Day, a day dedicated to building awareness about the issues that people with diabetes face every day.
The theme of this year’s World Diabetes Day is “Healthy Living and Diabetes,” specifically, the importance of eating a healthy breakfast each day.
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) established World Diabetes Day in 1991, when the disease was starting to become more prevalent across the globe. Today, the number of people living with diabetes continues to increase. In the 2014 National Diabetes Statistics Report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 9.3 percent of the nation’s population, or 29.1 million individuals, have diabetes. By 2020, it’s predicted that half of the U.S. population will have diabetes.
You have probably noticed high numbers of diabetes patients in your pharmacy, too. According to research by the American Diabetes Association (ADA), diabetes patients spent approximately $29.4 billion in pharmacies in 2012. And, pharmacists are increasingly more involved in their care, often providing services and products that go well beyond filling prescriptions.
As World Diabetes Day gains momentum, it’s important for your pharmacy to bring recognition to this campaign, as well as to the issue it promotes. At the same time, World Diabetes Day is the perfect opportunity to promote your pharmacy as a diabetes care provider, and your business as a one-stop shop for your diabetic patients’ needs. Here are some ways that you can celebrate World Diabetes Day in your pharmacy.
Decorate for the cause
The logo of World Diabetes Day is the blue circle. You can download it here for use in your pharmacy and on social media. IDF also offers a variety of World Diabetes Day posters that you can download and display. Complement the posters by decorating your pharmacy with the color blue using streamers or other easy party-style decorations.
Educate about diabetes
Educating all of your patients about diabetes is a great way to build awareness in your pharmacy. You can download several brochures and handouts from the American Association of Diabetes Educators here. Or, make your own materials! For example, you can put together a handout explaining what constitutes a healthy breakfast for diabetes patients.
Promote your products
Set up a display that shows off products for diabetes patients—anything from sugar-free cough medicine to testing supplies. Consider offering coupons, both in-store and on social media, to let customers know that you sell diabetes products. Don’t forget to explain why these products are important and helpful for those with diabetes to use.
Subsidize your services
If you can, offer free or discounted services on World Diabetes Day, such as diabetes screenings, which can help people realize they are at-risk for the disease. The CDC estimates that 27.8 percent of people with diabetes are undiagnosed; offering these screenings can help tackle this issue. For those who are already diagnosed, market the services you offer and encourage them to try them out at a discount.
Host an event
Get your patients excited to come to your pharmacy. Consider hosting a workshop on healthy eating with diabetes or host regular diabetes education classes. One topic could be how diabetes patients can use their smartphones to manage their disease. Be creative, and have fun!
This World Diabetes Day, build awareness of an important issue and make sure your diabetes patients are aware of all your pharmacy has to offer.
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