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Saarah Elberhoumi, Pharm.D. Candidate of 2025
In reflecting on my experience leading a diabetes clinic during my community APPE rotation, I am truly grateful for the opportunity my preceptor provided. This experience greatly enhanced my understanding of patient care, especially in an underrepresented community facing significant challenges like poor health literacy and medication adherence. Many patients struggle to pick up their medications regularly, making education and support essential.
During the clinic, I engaged in various activities, such as measuring blood pressure and blood sugar levels, and providing logs to encourage patients to track their progress. I also introduced continuous glucose monitoring as a helpful option for those who prefer not to deal with finger pricking and frequent measurements.
In my discussions, I covered key topics, including how to monitor blood sugar, understanding target ranges, and how to interpret readings. I emphasized the importance of A1C levels in managing diabetes and addressed hypoglycemia by educating the patients on its symptoms and prevention strategies. I also addressed hyperglycemia, focusing on the potential complications associated with it and the importance of regular monitoring to prevent these issues. Recognizing the critical role of lifestyle modifications, I talked about meal planning alongside their medications and highlighted the benefits of physical activity.
Overall, this experience was fulfilling and it brought me joy to make a positive impact in the
community. I learned that each patient is unique, which required me to adjust my approach
accordingly. I can confidently say that this clinic has improved my clinical skills, enhanced my patient communication, and gave me a sense of appreciation for the importance of individualized patient care in pharmacy as a profession.
To the reader, trust in your abilities and knowledge during your rotations; these experiences will help you build a successful future as a pharmacist!
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