The Health Mart Healthy Living Tour visited Kim’s Health Mart Pharmacy in Waynesville Sept. 6, to conduct free health screenings and to honor pharmacist/owner Kim Ferguson with an award for diabetes care.  Ferguson is one of five pharmacists across the country to be receiving a Diabetes Care Excellence Award, which was presented at Kim’s Health Mart Pharmacy.

“Health Mart®pharmacies are part of the fabric of the community, and pharmacists often serve as the first point of care for everyone from new parents to grandparents with diabetes,” said Chuck Wilson, Health Mart® vice president. “We recognize that diabetes is a serious epidemic affecting millions of Americans, and these five pharmacists have proven themselves as go-to resources in their community for those managing diabetes.”

The Diabetes Care Excellence Award program is a component of the Health Mart Healthy Living Tour, which is on the road this summer raising diabetes awareness by conducting health screenings at more than 70 Health Mart®Pharmacies across the country. The goal of the tour is to identify people who are at risk for diabetes and encourage those already affected by the disease to manage their condition with the help of a pharmacist. Tests include: blood pressure, total cholesterol, blood glucose and Hemoglobin A1C.

Approximately 30 people showed up for the free health screenings, which were offered to community members.

The Health Mart Healthy Living Tour celebrates and recognizes community pharmacists for the important role they play as trusted healthcare providers  in their communities. As part of the celebration, thet our offers free health screenings that include blood pressure, cholesterol, blood glucose

and Hemoglobin A1C tests.

Co-sponsored by Bayer Diabetes Care and Novo Nordisk, the Health Mart Healthy Living Tour is aiming to raise awareness of the growing diabetes epidemic — the disease affects approximately 25.8 million Americans. The tour is identifying people at risk and encouraging people with diabetes to manage their condition with the help of their Health Mart® pharmacist.