Expert Discusses Critical Role of Technology in Diabetes Care | APhA 2025
Susan Cornell, PharmD, CDCES, FAPhA, FADCES, associate director of experiential education at the College of Pharmacy at Midwestern University, also addresses personalized care and the expanding responsibilities of pharmacists.
Susan Cornell, PharmD, CDCES, FAPhA, FADCES, associate director of experiential education at the College of Pharmacy at Midwestern University, explores the evolving landscape of diabetes management, emphasizing the critical role of technology, personalized care, and the expanding responsibilities of pharmacists. Cornell highlights that technological advancements in health care are not one-size-fits-all, demonstrating this through a compelling anecdote about patient technology adoption. While a 75-year-old patient enthusiastically embraced continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), a younger patient resisted, underscoring the importance of individualized approaches to health care technology. Diabetes is presented as a complex, multifaceted condition that extends far beyond blood sugar management. It impacts cardiovascular health, liver and kidney function, and can even influence cognitive processes. She urges health care professionals, particularly pharmacists, to adopt a comprehensive care model. This involves asking patients holistic health questions about blood pressure, cholesterol, and conducting regular eye and foot examinations, ensuring a more thorough approach to patient care.
Cornell also emphasizes the growing significance of obesity management and lifestyle interventions. She argues that lifestyle changes should be the foundation of diabetes treatment, with medications serving as supplementary support. Emerging technologies like CGM provide unprecedented insights into patients' health, tracking everything from eating habits and exercise to stress levels and sleep patterns. The proliferation of health apps and wearable technologies further supports this trend of comprehensive, data-driven health management. Perhaps most notably, she celebrates the evolving role of pharmacists. Once marginalized in technological health care interventions, pharmacists are now at the forefront of CGM management. Cornell passionately advocates for pharmacists to shift from product-focused to service-oriented practice, positioning them as crucial health care providers who can make significant differences in patient outcomes through personalized, technology-enhanced care.
"We really need to show what we can do in terms of service," Cornell said. "We have to get away from product, and we have to look at service, and that is where the future of our profession lies. So wherever you're practicing, providing care and service is how we're actually going to make a difference."
