Diabetes

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu on Thursday announced the expansion of its exclusive in-store nutritional navigation program, "Nutrition iQ," to include the fresh food departments and more robust nutrition information for the center store.

PRINCETON, N.J. — Danish drug maker Novo Nordisk has created an online resource for diabetes patients that educates them about Novo Nordisk drugs and devices, recipes and nutritional values, and allows them to connect with other patients.

CHICAGO — With the explosion in such mobile devices as smart phones, Walgreens is expanding its access across an ever-wider array of options for health consumers, president and CEO Greg Wasson told shareholders at the company’s annual meeting Wednesday.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Companies that lower co-payments on prescription drugs while promoting disease management can lower their own healthcare costs, according to a three-year study commissioned by the Florida Health Care Coalition and published in the journal Health Affairs.

The study, which focused on patients with diabetes, found that companies combining disease-management programs with “value-based insurance design” can earn a return of $1.33 for every dollar they spend upfront on medication.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The American Diabetes Association is honoring Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, for demonstrating leadership and commitment in stopping diabetes.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — A program developed by the National Community Pharmacists Association and the American Association of Diabetes Educators seeks to educate pharmacists on how to help teach patients to better manage their diabetes.

The Diabetes Accreditation Standards-Practical Applications program will be offered four times this year, the first one being held at the Westin Gaslamp Quarter in San Diego Jan. 21 to 23, the groups said.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The independent pharmacy lobby has issued a letter to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform chairman, Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., with insight on how certain current or proposed federal regulations can burden pharmacies and their patients.

WHITEHOUSE STATION, N.J. — The Food and Drug Administration has accepted a regulatory approval application for a drug to treat Type 2 diabetes made by Merck, the drug maker said Tuesday.

Merck announced the acceptance of its application for extended-release Janumet, which combines in a single pill the active ingredient sitagliptin with extended-release metformin, a drug commonly prescribed for Type 2 diabetes.