Rite Aid Launches Its Annual Year-Round Campaign To Help Patients Manage Diabetes

Main Category: Diabetes
Article Date: 01 Oct 2009 - 23:00 PDT

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Rite Aid (NYSE:RAD) has kicked off its annual campaign on diabetes management by supporting the American Diabetes Association, the leading diabetes voluntary health organization, and dLife, the leading online diabetes resource, in the fight to stop diabetes.

Rite Aid resources and activities to help patients learn about, manage and prevent diabetes include:

- Free diabetes guides available in all Rite Aid stores and online at http://www.riteaid.com now through December 26;

- Diabetes Solutions Days offering screenings and health events at select Rite Aid stores;

- Interactive risk assessments, self-management resources and recipes at http://www.riteaid.com;

- Free enrollment in Rite for Diabetes, an online support group including e-newsletters;

- Money-saving specials and gift rewards for diabetes product purchases; and

- Sales of paper pin-ups to benefit patients with diabetes during American Diabetes Month in November.

Rite Aid is encouraging those with diabetes and those at risk for the disease to visit their local Diabetes Solutions Days at select stores on October 6 and 8 for screenings, product samples and vaccines for both regular seasonal flu and pneumonia. (The CDC recommends all diabetes patients get vaccinated for the regular seasonal flu.) For local events, check stores or visit http://www.riteaid.com/promos/diabetes_days/locator.jsf.

At the core of Rite Aid's awareness campaign is a free 16-page educational diabetes guide developed as part of Rite Aid's national strategic partnership with the American Diabetes Association. The guide is available at more than 4,800 Rite Aid stores nationwide and online at http://www.riteaid.com and covers:

- New developments in glucose monitoring such as the "estimated average glucose," or eAG, instead of the conventional A1C scale. The Association has published a large-scale study indicating eAG may help patients better understand the connection between their daily and long-term blood glucose control since it is measured in the same units found on glucose meters.

- The undiagnosed patient seeking information on personalized risk factors;
- The newly diagnosed patient learning the numbers behind successful diabetes management;
- The self-reliant patient seeking mastery of the blood glucose meter;
- The experienced diabetic looking for new lifestyle suggestions and recipes; and
- Those caring for patients with diabetes in search of care and wellness tips.

Additional interactive content will be available online at http://www.riteaiddiabetes.com all year including:

- An eAG calculator from the Association, which instantly converts glucose levels from A1C units;
- A diabetes risk assessment based on age, race, weight, family history and health history; and
- Diabetes-friendly recipes from dLife categorized by difficulty and preparation times.

Patients can learn more about diabetes by speaking with their Rite Aid pharmacist, who is specially trained in diabetes care and available to work one-on-one with patients to monitor glucose levels, answer questions, give advice on medications and new products and suggest successful lifestyle changes.

Rite Aid is providing the personal Rite for Diabetes program online at http://www.riteaid.com/health/ritefordiabetes/ where patients can receive a free e-newsletter, valuable savings and lifestyle advice including access to Personal Menu Solutions, an online tool to help plan, track and maintain daily meals and exercise.

At a time when every dollar counts, Rite Aid is also offering two ways to stock up on diabetic supplies for less. Through December 26, $30 purchases of select products will earn a free tote bag filled with diabetes product samples and coupons. In a separate program, many patients can save $25 off select at-home glucose test strips. See http://www.riteaid.com for details and restrictions on either promotion.

In honor of American Diabetes Month, Rite Aid stores nationwide will be selling $1 ADA paper pin-ups from October 25 to November 28 to benefit diabetes patients nationwide. To date, Rite Aid has contributed over $1.9 million directly to the Association to support its mission to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.

Rite Aid's focus on diabetes management is part of its yearlong commitment to patient health and wellness. Each year Rite Aid offers free information, answers and guidance on health and wellness topics including weight management, heart health, allergy awareness, skin care and oral care.

Source
Rite Aid

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