My dad got diabetes about three years ago and it scared the hell out of all of us. He’s always been healthy, never took any medications, and suddenly he’s got this glucose meter and insulin pens and we’re all trying to figure out what the heck we’re supposed to do.
The doctor gave us this huge packet of information and sent us home. Dad was supposed to check his blood sugar twice a day, but the meter kept giving him different numbers and he was getting frustrated. My mom was panicking every time his reading was “high” even though we had no idea what high actually meant.
Then my neighbor mentioned that the pharmacist at Riverside Pharmacy – that little place in the strip mall near the grocery store – really knows his stuff about diabetes. I figured it was worth a shot since we were pretty much clueless.
Come In, We Can Help You!
Best decision we made. Frank, the pharmacist there, spent like a half hour with Dad showing him how to use the glucose meter properly. Turns out Dad wasn’t getting enough blood on the test strip half the time, which is why his numbers were all over the place. Problem solved.
Why Small Pharmacies Are Different
Look, CVS and Walgreens are fine when you need to grab some Tylenol or whatever. But when you’re dealing with serious health stuff, having someone who actually knows you makes a huge difference.
Frank knows Dad’s name, knows he takes his blood pressure pills in the morning with his coffee, and remembers that he hates those giant horse-pill vitamins. When Dad’s A1C numbers started going up a few months back, Frank noticed before we did and suggested Dad talk to his doctor about it.
At the chain places, you’re lucky if they look up from their computer screen when they hand you your bag. Here, Frank actually pays attention to what’s going on with Dad’s health. He caught a problem with Dad’s insurance coverage before it became an issue and helped us figure out a generic alternative when one of his medications got crazy expensive.
Actually Having Time to Help
The big difference is that Frank has time to actually explain things. When Dad first started on insulin, he was terrified he was going to mess up the dosage or inject air bubbles or something. Frank showed him how the pens work, let him practice with a demo pen, and wrote down simple instructions that actually made sense.
My aunt goes to a different small pharmacy in Millburn and her pharmacist does the same thing. She’s on like six different medications and was getting confused about timing. Her pharmacist made her a chart showing exactly when to take what. Seems simple, but it made a world of difference.
Getting Real Help with Diabetes
Managing diabetes is confusing as hell, especially at first. The doctors give you all this information, but they’re rushing through appointments and using medical terms that go over your head. Frank explains things in normal person language.
Blood Sugar Testing That Makes Sense
Dad was obsessing over his blood sugar numbers at first, checking them like every hour and getting upset when they weren’t perfect. Frank explained that blood sugar naturally goes up and down throughout the day, and what Dad should actually be worried about versus what’s normal.
He also helped Dad figure out which glucose meter worked best for him. The first one the doctor gave him was hard to use because the buttons were tiny and Dad couldn’t see the numbers clearly. Frank let him try a couple different ones until we found one that was easier to handle.
The test strips are another thing – they’re expensive as hell, and some insurance plans cover certain brands better than others. Frank keeps track of what Dad’s insurance covers and makes sure we’re not paying more than we have to.
Dealing with Insulin
The insulin thing was probably the scariest part for Dad. He kept worrying he was going to inject too much or not enough. Frank went through the whole process step by step – how to store it, how to check the expiration dates, what to do if he forgot to take a dose.
When Dad’s doctor switched him to a different insulin, Frank made sure we understood why and how the timing was different. He also warned us that Dad might feel a little off for the first few days while his body adjusted, which was good to know ahead of time.
Blood Pressure Checks Without the Drama
Dad’s supposed to monitor his blood pressure regularly, but buying one of those home monitors seemed like a waste since he probably wouldn’t remember to use it consistently. Plus, those things are confusing and we weren’t sure we’d be doing it right.
Frank has this blood pressure cuff at the pharmacy, and Dad can just stop by whenever he’s in the area. Takes two minutes, Frank writes down the numbers in a little log book, and we’re done. No appointment needed, no copay.
Catching Problems Before They Get Bad
A few months ago, Dad’s blood pressure readings were higher than usual during his weekly checks at the pharmacy. Frank suggested Dad call his doctor, and it turned out one of his medications needed adjusting. If Dad had been waiting for his regular doctor appointments every few months, who knows how long it would have taken to catch that.
The other thing is that Dad’s blood pressure is always elevated when he goes to the doctor’s office – white coat syndrome or whatever they call it. Getting readings in a relaxed setting gives his doctor a better idea of what his pressure actually is on a normal day.
Finding a Pharmacy That Actually Cares
Not every small pharmacy is going to be like Frank’s place. Some are just as rushed and impersonal as the chains. But it’s worth asking around your neighborhood to see if anyone has recommendations.
Look for pharmacists who advertise diabetes education or medication counseling. Ask if they keep logs of blood pressure readings. Most importantly, see if the pharmacist seems willing to actually talk to you instead of just handing over your pills and rushing you out the door.
Dad’s been going to Frank for almost three years now, and I honestly think it’s made managing his diabetes way less stressful. Having someone knowledgeable who you can just walk in and ask questions to – without making an appointment or waiting weeks to see the doctor – has been huge for our family. Plus, Frank genuinely seems to care about how Dad’s doing, which means a lot when you’re dealing with health scares.
