Low-income older adults are at increased risk of cutting back on basic needs, including food and medication. This study examined the relationship between food insecurity and cost-related medication non-adherence (CRN) in low-income Georgian older adults. The study sample includes new Older Americans Act Nutrition Program participants and waitlisted people assessed by a self-administered mail survey (N = 1000, mean age 75.0 + so - 9.1 years, 68.4% women, 25.8% African American). About 49.7% of participants were food insecure, while 44.4% reported practicing CRN. Those who were food insecure and/or who practiced CRN were more likely to be African American, low-income, younger, less educated, and to report poorer self-reported health status. Food insecure participants were 2.9 (95% CI 2.2, 4.0) times more likely to practice CRN behaviors than their counterparts after controlling for potential confounders. Improving food security is important inorder to promote adherence to recommended prescription regimens.

This study examined the effects of a nutrition and diabetes education intervention on improving hemoglobin A1C levels, diabetes self-management activities, and A1C knowledge in congregate meal recipients in senior centers in north Georgia. Participants were a convenience sample and completed a pre-test, an educational intervention, and a post-test (N = 91, mean age = 73 years, 60% Caucasian, and 40% African American). Following the intervention, (1) A1C levels significantly decreased by 0.66 and 1.46% among those with pretest A1C of > 6.5% and > 8%, respectively (P 6.5% were correlated with increases in physical activity (P

Low‐income older adults are at increased risk of cutting back on basic needs, including food and medication. This study examined food insecurity and cost‐related medication non‐adherence (CRN) in a randomly selected sample of senior center participants in northeast Georgia (n=137, age 77.3±8.8 years, 82.5%women, 44.8% black). Food insecurity was assessed using the 10‐item USDA Household Food Security Survey Module. Practice of 5 CRN behaviors (e.g. splitting pills, skipping doses) and 9 other prescription cost‐cutting (PCC) behaviors (e.g. seeking free samples, importing prescriptions) over the last month were evaluated. About 8% of participants were food insecure, while 9% and 32% had utilized one or more CRN and cost‐cutting strategies, respectively. Food insecure participants were more likely to be black, less educated, and at nutritional risk. Those who practiced CRN were more likely to be at nutritional risk and to practice PCC strategies. Food insecure participants were about 14 times more likely to practice one or more CRN behaviors than their counterparts even after controlling for potential confounders. Food insecure older adults were unable to meet not only basic food needs but also basic prescription needs. Improving food security is important for low‐income older adults in order to promote adherence to recommended medication management. Funding: ADA Healthy Aging DPG Student Research Award

Type 2 Diabetes for Beginners, written by Phyllis Barrier, RD, CDE, and published by the American Diabetes Association, is a book that gives the person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and their significant others basic information on what is involved with the daily management of diabetes. Information presented is written in an easy-to-understand format that incorporates different patient scenarios to bring the information to life. Family practice and internal medicine offices may want to provide a copy of this book to patients and family members. Being a registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator, Barrier is well qualified to write this book. Information is a little more heavily weighted toward meal planning because of the author's background. The inclusion of pictures, places for the patient to write down his or her medications, and target ranges for blood sugar, lipid, and blood pressure levels provides the reader with a resource that is easy to read. Information on high and low blood sugar levels was thorough and easy to understand.Discussion of insulin could have been clearer. Barrier refers to drawing up clear and cloudy insulin when talking about mixing insulin. The fact that Lantus ® is clear and should not be mixed with other insulin is not included in this section. An explanation of the storage requirements of insulin also would have been helpful. The inclusion of Apidra ® provides readers with up-to-date information on a rapid-acting human insulin analog recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. The section on oral medications was somewhat limited in information. Details about precautions related to taking oral agents could have been included. The explanation about long-term diabetesrelated complications was good, with a place for patients

Objective. The primary objective of this study was to assess wellness programs that are integrated into experiential training in the pharmacy curriculum. The secondary objective was to ascertain faculty members' beliefs towards student involvement in community service-oriented wellness programs within early pharmacy curricula. Methods. A national survey of pharmacy colleges and schools in the United States was conducted in 2003 using web-based survey administration. Results. Of 82 pharmacy colleges and schools sampled, 49 responded to the survey. Of these, 44 institutions offered wellness programs. Forty of these institutions allowed doctor of pharmacy students to interact with patients directly via wellness programs. All respondents, independent of their institution's involvement in wellness programs, believed that these students should be allowed to participate in wellness programs and interact with patients. Conclusion. This study demonstrates the need for pharmacy educators to encourage increased participation of professional students in the provision of community-based wellness services.