Cave City Pharmacy recently held its first Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) class. (Image: Cave City Pharmacy)
A new partnership between Cave City Pharmacy and a University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences institute aims to help thousands of north-central and northeast Arkansas residents better manage diabetes, one of the state’s most widespread chronic illnesses.
Cave City Pharmacy and the UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation are parterning to expand diabetes self-management education for families in Sharp, Independence, Izard and Lawrence counties, with a focus on reaching underserved populations.
The effort is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through an initiative called Reaching Every Arkansan by Connecting Health Resources to Reduce Diabetes Disparities. The program aims to expand access to diabetes self-management education (DSME) in 61 high-need counties statewide.
The initiative is supported by Cave City Pharmacy, the UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation, the Arkansas Community Health Worker Association and the Arkansas Community Pharmacy Enhanced Services Network, known as Arkansas CPESN. That network includes nearly 200 local pharmacies working to improve patient outcomes and lower the overall cost of care.
“We’re excited to provide people living with diabetes in the counties we serve another way to manage their condition and improve their health,” said Jenny Davis, a pharmacist at Cave City Pharmacy. “Through DSME, we extend our commitment to patient-centered care by offering hands-on education that complements our pharmacy services. This partnership strengthens our role in supporting better health outcomes for our community.”
More than 300,000 Arkansans – nearly 14% of the state’s population – live with diabetes, and an estimated 70,000 more are suspected to have diabetes but remain undiagnosed. According to the American Diabetes Association, more than 10% of Americans are diagnosed with some form of diabetes, with Type 2 diabetes accounting for about 90% of these cases. While Type 2 diabetes can often be managed initially through lifestyle changes, it frequently requires medication over time.
“Diabetes is a complex condition that can lead to costly downstream complications if not properly managed,” said Bri Morris Gilbert, PharmD, executive director of Arkansas CPESN. “By integrating DSME into pharmacies like Cave City Pharmacy across the state, we’re enhancing patient access to expert medication guidance and personalized care, empowering them to improve their health outcomes while strengthening their connection to trusted local pharmacy teams. I commend the Cave City Pharmacy team for making this valuable service available to their community.”
Since 2012, the UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation has developed culturally tailored diabetes self-management education programs, extending its reach beyond Arkansas to Oklahoma, Oregon, Washington, Hawaii and the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Through its programs, the institute connects individuals and families with trained community health workers who help them navigate health care and access essential services and education.
“Many of our rural families are not just dealing with diabetes but also with isolation from quality health care services,” said Pearl McElfish, division director of the UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation. “Our community health workers are more than educators — they are lifelines, providing support and connecting families to the resources they need to manage their diabetes effectively. This initiative is about changing lives and ensuring that no one has to face this challenge alone.”
For more information about Cave City Pharmacy’s diabetes self-management education program and other enhanced services, call 870-283-5589 or visit www.cavecitypharmacy.com. For more on the UAMS Institute for Community Health Innovation’s diabetes management programs, visit www.communityhealth.uams.edu. For more on Arkansas CPESN and participating pharmacies, visit www.arkansascpesn.com.
Participants of Cave City Pharmacy’s first Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) class. (Image: Cave City Pharmacy)
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