Demystifying diabetes: an interview with Certified Diabetes Educator Dr. Fairuz Siraj
“My doctor has told me that I need to go on insulin. Does that mean I have failed miserably at managing diabetes?”
It is not uncommon for our patients to mistakenly feel like they have failed in understanding the basics of managing diabetes when their doctor recommends medication or insulin. Often when this happens, our patients will come to us with questions. Questions about what they could have done better, and questions about whether a particular medication or insulin is really necessary, or even helpful.
What’s even more concerning however, are the questions that your patients are not asking, specifically the ones they aren't asking you.
It will come as no surprise that the very questions your patients aren’t asking you in person are the questions they actively seek answers to online. Unfortunately, despite the wealth of knowledge available from accessible medical professionals like pharmacists, the combination of a busy dispensary, the allure of social media and the ease of searching for answers to questions about their health from the privacy and comfort of their own home, without any perceived judgment or bias on these platforms is irresistible.
In an effort to shed light on some of the most commonly searched questions about diabetes, and to debunk common misconceptions on this topic, I spoke with fellow pharmacist, and Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE), Dr. Fairuz Siraj on the Friendly Pharmacy 5 channel.
Prior to the Q&A portion of the interview, Dr. Siraj presents a series of slides that cover the foundations of diabetes diagnosis and management, and explains the specific causes and challenges of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This short presentation is sure to be an excellent resource both for pharmacy teams and for patients and Dr. Siraj explains these concepts with a very friendly and easy to understand approach.
Later in the Q&A, we dive even deeper and discuss how asymptomatic type 2 diabetes can damage the body, how to recognize and address high morning glucose levels, and what types of diet and exercise strategies can prevent the progression of diabetes.
We also discuss the utility of Continuous Glucose Monitors for optimal diabetes management and Dr. Siraj shares a free resource for those who have questions about diabetes developed by none other than our friends at RxFiles.
The hope here is that by providing searchable, evidence-based information about diabetes, those who search will not only find credible information but will also know that their pharmacist is more than capable of answering their questions in the future.
Please consider sharing this interview with your teams and across your social media platforms. Knowledge is power, and together we can make a positive difference in the lives of those affected by diabetes.
Access expert interviews and evidence-based health content at your fingertips on the Friendly Pharmacy 5 Channel.
Lindsay Dixon is a pharmacist, consultant, and health content creator. She is also the Founder of Friendly Pharmacy 5 & CreateRx. For collaborations or consulting services, please reach out: [email protected]
