Diabetes

Insurance companies see the benefits of working with pharmacy to help manage private drug plans

Last year Winnipeg’s Lengim Ingram took a risk. After spending several years building her diabetes acumen in community pharmacies, she started her own business. In this new venture, she dedicates the vast majority of her time to clinical practice, counselling diabetes patients in various GP and endocrinology offices. She also delivers diabetes clinics in community pharmacies, and recently formed a journal club for local pharmacists interested in the disease.

“First, do no harm,” as suggested by Hippocrates, is a vital principle that should always guide physicians, but they are also well aware that in modern healthcare, whether in the form of drugs, operations, radiotherapy or any other form of treatment, there is always the possibility of causing harm to their patients. All drugs have potential adverse side-effects and all surgery carries risk. Doctors and patients need to be reasonably satisfied that the likely balance of benefit and harm with any intervention is favourable.

Canadian Working Group provides update on diagnosis, prevention, and management

During my recent visit to Canada, I had a chance to meet Dr. Yoni Freedhoff, an obesity expert for EvidenceNetwork.ca and an assistant professor in family medicine at the University of Ottawa. He is also the founder and medical director of Ottawa's Bariatric Medicine Institute, so I figured he knew a thing or two about patient engagement when it comes to reducing obesity. What he had to say was somewhat surprising and could be useful for people who are struggling to lose weight or helping others who are.