Marsh Offers Free Diabetes Medicines
Marsh Supermarkets Inc. has launched the Marsh Diabetes Care Program, a first-of-its-kind offering for people with diabetes in Indiana.
Through the new program, Hoosiers battling diabetes will have access to more than half a dozen free diabetes medicines, available with prescription through a Marsh pharmacy, as well as comprehensive nutrition and wellness support, from shopping strategies and diabetes-friendly recipes to access to a registered dietitian.
“Living with a chronic disease like diabetes can be daunting and costly. At Marsh, we strive to offer our customers high-quality programs, products, and services that allow them to not only make healthier choices, but also realize cost savings,” said Joe Kelley, Marsh chairman, CEO and president. “Marsh already offers one of the most comprehensive supermarket nutrition programs in the country. Now, with our new diabetes care program, Marsh is providing our customers who have diabetes with valuable pharmacy savings and support, complemented with sound nutrition and wellness counseling.”
Marsh pharmacies will offer seven oral diabetes medicines, as well as lancets for testing blood sugar, at no cost to customers, with a prescription. In addition, the new program will provide diabetes patients with a free diabetes monitoring kit, free training on how to use and read a diabetes meter, a quarterly newsletter that includes recipes and tips for managing diabetes, and both in-store and online access to a Marsh pharmacist. Marsh shoppers already have online access to a full-time registered dietitian at [email protected].
Marsh plans to expand the program in early 2012 to include in-store and virtual online tours that help diabetes customers develop smart shopping strategies, including how to read labels and what to look for when purchasing fruits and vegetables, grains, meats, dairy products and other food items.
Marsh also will provide diabetes customers with special promotional offerings and discounts to encourage healthy food choices and help defray the cost of diabetes supplies.
From 2000 to 2009, the prevalence of diabetes in Indiana increased by more than 50 percent, according to a report issued by the Indiana State Department of Health. Nearly half a million Hoosiers – more than 9 percent of the state’s adult population – has diagnosed diabetes.
Information about the Marsh Diabetes Care Program is available at any of the 40 Marsh pharmacy locations in Indiana, as well as at www.marsh.net.
Indianapolis-based Marsh Supermarkets operates 70 Marsh stores, including three O’Malia’s Supermarkets and 27 MainStreet Markets in Indiana and Ohio, with 40 Indiana pharmacy locations.