The SUPERVALU Pharmacies Diabetes Care Program began in 1994 with dedicated pharmacists who wanted to make a difference in patient care. With continued growth of the patient care program over the last decade, pharmacists apply and interview for this opportunity in order to fully utilize their clinical skills in the community setting.

Once selected, these pharmacists must complete a training and continuing education program followed by an extensive knowledge assessment and orientation. Utilizing both home study and hands-on, face-to-face instruction, this training covers all areas of diabetes care and incorporates management of other disease states related to diabetes. Following the training and orientation, these pharmacists complete continuing education each year to remain active in the program and keep up to date on the needs of individuals with diabetes. Additionally, each Diabetes Care Pharmacist (DCP) must accrue the 1,000 direct patient care hours that are required to sit for the Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE) exam.

These highly trained DCPs provide private, individual training sessions and group seminars for patients. Fees for the sessions are paid by cash, funded by grants or covered by third-party insurance when available.

The private sessions target the individual self-care skills development that many people with diabetes need. Popular topics range from instruction about blood glucose monitoring and insulin injection methods, to hypoglycemia prevention and monofilament foot exams. The DCP is also able to utilize in-store lab-testing capabilities to effectively measure and manage the patient’s A1c, blood pressure and lipids. Once the lab values are measured, the DCP provides targeted education about the lifestyle changes that could positively affect the patient’s heart and vessel health. Currently, there are more than 150 Diabetes Care Pharmacists offering patient care services in 12 states.

From the beginning of the SUPERVALU Pharmacies Diabetes Care Program, our DCPs have impacted the lives of over 60,000 patients through formal educational interventions. Since 2004, DCPs have taught over 3,300 patients in diabetes seminars and met individually with over 5,000 patients. If you are looking for an opportunity to utilize the clinical skills that you have developed, look no further than SUPERVALU Pharmacies.