WAG expands diabetic outreach with DRIF alliance

Hollywood, Fla. — The chain that wants to be the top retail destination for wellness has added another plank to its accessible care platform.


Walgreens has allied with the Diabetes Research Institute Foundation to launch a new partnership aimed at helping an estimated 200,000-plus Broward County, Fla., residents affected by diabetes. The new initiative, called Diabetes Research Institute Live Well Broward County, is a joint effort of the DRIF, Walgreens, LifeScan and South Florida physicians.


The program will be offered Wednesdays at seven Walgreens locations that house a specialized diabetes clinic. 


At the clinics, residents can get one-on-one consultations on a myriad of diabetes issues, including free blood-sugar screenings; free blood-glucose meter training; medication therapy management, including insulin use; access to a free diabetes resource library; and referrals to a local physician. In coming months, services like eye screening for retinopathy will be available, according to Walgreens. Those who have a prescription and who qualify also will receive a LifeScan OneTouch Ultra Brand Meter.


“The more resources, tools and education we can supply to those who have diabetes or prediabetes, including referring a physician who can help them, then the better chance we have of moving the dial on diabetes downward,” said Greg Upham, Walgreens clinic coordinator and certified diabetes educator. “We hope this initial program … may be mirrored in other communities moving forward.”