Hussein Elsaghir
ENG 3010
Project 2
Historical Overview
A patient diagnosed with diabetes is looking at a lifetime of hardships, but as
time progressed the role of a pharmacist has been able to control and even in some
cases remove this disease completely. The treatment for diabetics has evolved
drastically in the last 30 years. In 1981, Hawkins a clinical pharmacist began to
research the effects pharmacists have on patients diagnosed with diabetes. Hawkins
found that by addressing certain areas such as regulating and monitoring drug-therapy
and conducting clinical drug trials, he was able to assist in regulating and decreasing
blood sugar levels, and systolic hypertension among patients with diabetes mellitus
(aka Type 1 diabetes). This allowed room for advancements to grow. Two year later
in 1983, Dr. Huff a clinical pharmacist decided to assemble a team of pharmacists to
help educate patients diagnosed with diabetes. This study allowed pharmacists to
educate and instruct diabetics regarding self-care methods. Through routine check-ups
and information regarding pathophysiological therapy, patients were able to
themselves manage their blood glucose levels rather than having a physician do it for
them. The pharmacist’s role in diabetic care has become a crucial factor, which in
some cases increases life expectancy for those losing the fight against diabetes. With
the medical field improving day by day, the last 30 years or so have really shown the
development of new forms of treatments and creation of new medications.
The past has allowed us to create new teams of pharmacists dedicated to help
fight the battle against diabetes. These teams are referred to as Diabetic Management
Teams (DMT) and are nearly in every hospital across the world. In 2012, Mohammed
Ali led a DMT, which conducted a 12-month study that would result in lowering
cardiovascular risks among patients diagnosed with type II diabetes.
Bibliography
1. Hawkins DW, Clinical Pharmacy Function in Ambulatory Patient Care. J Clin
Pharmacol. 1981; 21:245-250. Sage Journals [serial online]. ipswich, MA
Accessed September 30, 2012
2. Huff PS; Ives TJ; Almond SN; Griffin NW. Pharmacist-managed diabetes
education service.American Journal Of Hospital Pharmacy 1983 Jun; Vol. 40
(6), pp. 991-4. MEDLINE [serial online].ipswich, MA Accessed October 1,
2012.
3. Ali, M., Schifano, F.,Robinson, P. ; Phillips, G. ; Doherty, L. ; Melnick,
P. ; Laming, L. ; Sinclair, A. ; Dhillon, S. Impact of community pharmacy
diabetes monitoring and education programme on diabetes management: a
randomized controlled study. Diabetic Medicine. 2012 Sep; 29(9): e326-33.
BSCOhost [serial online].ipswich, MA. Accessed September 30, 2012