Diabetes

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The National Association of Chain Drug Stores and the National Community Pharmacists Association have expressed their support for H.R. 891, the Medication Therapy Management Benefits Act of 2011, as it would expand the pool of Medicare Part D beneficiaries who can qualify for the service provided by a licensed pharmacist to any patient with a chronic medical condition. Currently, only those patients suffering from multiple chronic conditions are eligible.

Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., and Mike Ross, D-Ark., introduced the bill.

DES MOINES, Iowa — Walgreens has won recognition from a company that designs medication therapy management programs.

Walgreens, which has invested heavily in their MTM programs, was named the top national chain by Outcomes Pharmaceutical Health Care’s MTM network.

Other honorees included Kerr Drug, Kroger and Supervalu, which were saluted for MTM services provided at one of their respective stores.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy has announced the launch of the 2011 To Your Health program, offering free preventive health screenings at more than 800 events in communities across the country. The program is designed to help Americans determine their risk for chronic diseases and get them on a path to better health.

The program will get under way in Houston on March 5, and continue in Dallas, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Philadelphia, Chicago and Miami.

NEW YORK — Over the years, a fatty liver has become an indicator of obesity and insulin resistance among humans, but researchers have found that people with fatty livers are five times more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes than their healthier counterparts.

BOSTON — Advances in kidney care have not led to successful efforts to improve therapy for patients with Type 1 diabetes, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

SUNBURY, Pa. — Weis Markets streamlined its internal connection between wellness and pharmacy earlier this year with an organizational restructure that folded the Weis Lifestyle Initiatives department, led by registered dietitian Karen Buch, into the grocer’s pharmacy division.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — A convenient blood-glucose test commonly used to diagnose diabetes and prediabetes may not be the best way to diagnose children, according to a new study.

PRINCETON, N.J., and WILMINGTON, Del. — The makers behind a popular Type 2 diabetes treatment have included data from two clinical studies in an update to the drug's prescribing information.

Bristol-Myers Squibb and AstraZeneca said the Food and Drug Administration approved the labeling update for Onglyza (saxagliptin), which now includes efficacy and safety information about the drug's effects on patients with renal impairment or end-stage renal disease.