'Diabetes affects more than 8 percent of the U.S. population and is the seventh leading cause of death, nationwide,' said Christi Pedra, senior vice president of Marketing for Cardinal Health's Pharmaceutical segment. 'The diabetes population is expected to double by 2034, and we are committed to providing community pharmacists with the tools and resources they need to help these patients better understand and manage this disease.'

In honor of National Diabetes Month, Cardinal Health is providing its customers with free access to the following tools and materials to help them host a diabetes educational session in their pharmacy:

-An interactive presentation, developed in partnership with CreativePharmacist.com, which helps pharmacists educate patients about diabetes awareness, risk prevention and daily management. The presentation also focuses on how patients can build their relationships with their local pharmacist to improve healthcare outcomes.
-Patient informational handouts that help the patient follow along with the interactive presentation, allowing the patient to record what they are learning about diabetes from their pharmacist.
-An ADA risk assessment form that helps patients identify whether they are at risk of developing the disease; and
-Promotional materials including customizable bag clippers and flyers.

Cardinal Health also offers a Specialized Care Center focused on diabetes. Participating pharmacies benefit from a wide array of tools and resources to help community pharmacists position themselves as a local destination for diabetes care.

'With our Diabetes Specialized Care Centers, pharmacists can take an active role in improving the lives and outcomes of their patients with diabetes,' said Pedra. 'This unique combination of training, education, tools and support empowers pharmacists to position themselves as their community's local destination – and trusted advisor – for diabetes care.'

Cardinal Health's Specialized Care Center for Diabetes features:

-Training for pharmacists and staff, including more than 35 hours of continuing education conveniently available online; or the option to complete the continuing education live at the Cardinal Health Retail Business Conference.
-Educational offerings for diabetes patients, including fully developed, monthly curricula and patient handouts on diabetes care topics that make it easy for pharmacists to host monthly diabetes educational classes for their patients.
-Marketing support, including access to online marketing tools that empower pharmacists and their staff to create customized and diabetes-specific marketing materials including newspaper ads, flyers and bag clippers. Participating customers also get access to best practices for marketing a local diabetes programs, specialized services and more; along with a list of local doctors and long term care facilities with whom they can promote their pharmacy and build their reputation as the community's diabetes resource,
-Recommended diabetes planograms based on store space, to enhance diabetes product assortment and ensure those products are merchandised in a way that makes the pharmacy's diabetes focus and expertise clear to patients.

About Cardinal Health

Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) is a $108 billion healthcare services company that improves the cost-effectiveness of health care. As the business behind health care, Cardinal Health helps pharmacies, hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and physician offices focus on patient care while reducing costs, enhancing efficiency and improving quality. Cardinal Health is an essential link in the health care supply chain, providing pharmaceuticals and medical products to more than 60,000 locations each day. The company is also a leading manufacturer of medical and surgical products, including gloves, surgical apparel and fluid management products. In addition, the company supports the growing diagnostic industry by supplying medical products to clinical laboratories and operating the nation's largest network of radiopharmacies that dispense products to aid in the early diagnosis and treatment of disease. Ranked #21 on the Fortune 500, Cardinal Health employs more than 30,000 people worldwide. More information about the company may be found at cardinalhealth.com and @CardinalHealth on Twitter.