Since 2014, David Pyne has headed up the Community Care Chemist in North Geelong. David has now taken on a new role as Professional Services Manager, working across all Community Care Chemist stores with a particular focus on diabetes prevention and management. David and his team of pharmacists have played a pivotal role in setting up a comprehensive diabetes program, including stocking a suite of products and services including the National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) products and all major insulin types.
David is a passionate pharmacist who is keen to share his knowledge to the residents of Greater Geelong. Let’s get to know David and what drives his enthusiasm with all things diabetes.
What drew you to join the CCC team? How long have you been a pharmacist? Why did you become a pharmacist?
I’ve been a pharmacist for nine years and working in pharmacy for over 11 years. I started my career in Adelaide and moved to Geelong six years ago to further my career and moved across to the CCC team two years ago. I never thought I wanted to be a pharmacist growing up; I wanted to be a scientist and sit in a lab all day. I learnt very quickly though that I enjoyed interacting with people and loved helping people, so I thought a career change into Pharmacy was the likely choice, and have absolutely loved it since day one.
In the past few years, the community pharmacy industry was starting to see some difficult times and many companies were finding it hard to move forward. This is when I heard about CCC and the way they were pioneering new ideas. I’ve been part of the CCC team for 2 years now and have been given fantastic opportunities to concentrate on one of my passions in public health - diabetes. I am currently at university part time studying to be a Diabetes Educator in the hope of helping the Geelong community manage, prevent and delay the growing diabetes epidemic in our region.
Why is CCC so unique? What draws customers to CCC over other pharmacies?
Community Care Chemist is a forward-thinking pharmacy, as we provide the resources which enable us to spend a great deal of time with the people who come to our pharmacies for advice. We are also a not-for-profit organisation, so I know all the effort I put into making a difference is benefitting the wider community. Being a local, Geelong business is also very important to me. With Geelong going through a much talked about downturn in larger businesses, I am very glad to be working for a local business which services and benefits the Geelong region.
At CCC, you can speak to a pharmacist about your needs EVERY time you enter any of our stores. We are also now becoming known as the diabetes destination for community pharmacies in the Geelong region, with many of our staff, including myself, furthering our knowledge about diabetes and being able to offer the latest information and products for both managing and preventing diabetes.
Why is diabetes such a hot health topic in Greater Geelong?
Diabetes is a major problem in Australia, but is of significant worry in some areas of Geelong, which have nearly twice the national average of people living with Diabetes. A study done in 2000 found that almost 1 in 4 Australians either has diabetes or pre-diabetes (also known as impaired glucose metabolism) (David W Dunstan, 2000). It also found that for every person diagnosed with diabetes, there is one who is undiagnosed (David W Dunstan, 2000). These are alarming numbers and have almost certainly increased since this information was published over a decade ago. To put that into perspective, we can estimate that there are 12,000 people in Geelong living with diabetes, but have not been diagnosed and there could be as many as 60,000 people living in Geelong with either diabetes or pre-diabetes. The team at CCC, along with myself and our diabetes educator, wish to help these people in finding out if they may be at risk of developing diabetes, are undiagnosed and should be getting treatment and, of course, helping those already living with diabetes.
What is on offer in the diabetes safe at CCC?
My studies towards becoming a Diabetes Educator have given me the latest information and strategies for managing and treating diabetes. I also spend a lot of time with all our pharmacists and pharmacy staff at each of our stores, imparting my knowledge and training them in all the latest diabetes information; for example, what is going on with the NDSS changes and basic tips and advice on managing diabetes. We have all the common insulin types in store and a large range of diabetes related products. We keep a large range of NDSS products for people who are living with diabetes, including having access to insulin pump consumables, which are now available through pharmacies (bearing in mind there can be a wait time for products to be available in the pharmacy).
Also, we have a credentialed diabetes nurse educator, Olga, who is an expert on managing, treating and preventing diabetes. Olga has endless knowledge on the condition and is up to date with all the latest research, ideas, devices and ways of managing living with diabetes. Olga is at our North Geelong store once a fortnight.
What are your top tips when it comes to (1) preventing diabetes and (2) managing diabetes?
1) PREVENTION: 1. A healthy balanced diet including low GI carbohydrates. 2. Regular exercise 3. Natural supplements to help reduce blood sugar. 4. Screening for Type 2 Diabetes at your local CCC or GP at least once a year.
2) TREATMENT: 1. A healthy balanced diet and regular exercise 2. Testing your own blood sugar regularly and being able to interpret the results 3. See your Diabetes Educator twice a year (your diabetes educator can help with tips 1 and 2).
With such a barrage of health information on the internet, why do Australians still have so many health issues that are still on the incline, such as diabetes?
It is largely due to our sedentary lifestyle. We spend all our time on our backsides reading about the health issues on the internet, rather than getting outside and doing something about it! A lot of the major health problems on the rise (like diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure) are preventable and manageable with a healthy balanced diet and regular exercise. We need to eat well and keep fit and continue to live a healthy lifestyle even as we get older.
What can CCC do to help residents of Geelong take control of their health?
Our pharmacists are well trained in providing the latest health advice and if beyond their expertise, are able to refer to appropriate clinicians.
I now work at all our CCC stores and am specifically trained to help people with diabetes and in helping others prevent diabetes. We have our Diabetes Educator, Olga, in store to give up to date advice to diabetes patients. Olga also has excellent advice around a healthy diet to manage, treat and prevent diabetes.
We have a weight management program, Ultra Lite, as well as meal replacement supplements and other strategies to help you achieve your goal weight.
We are also trained in advice around most primary health problems. Just come in store and speak to one of our approachable pharmacists.
What can you expect when you walk through the doors of CCC?
Service and advice; you will always be able to speak to a pharmacist, no matter when you come into our store. If you have diabetes or are wanting help and advice about diabetes, CCC should be your destination. We have the staff and resources to help in all aspects of diabetes management and prevention.
What do you enjoy doing outside CCC? Hobbies, travel, books?
Running is my biggest hobby. I love going for long runs with my wife and am currently in training for the Melbourne Marathon later this year.
What is your ultimate cuisine and why?
I like trying new food, no matter how out there it is. I can’t go past a good curry though.
What makes you laugh?
I love standup comedy. I try get to the Melbourne International Comedy Festival every year. I also love good old English comedy. I was brought up on a staple diet of Monty Python and Mr. Bean.
Bibliography
David W Dunstan, Paul Z Zimmett, Timothy A Welborn, Adrian J Cameron, Jonathan Shaw, Maximilian de Courten, Damien Jolley, Daniel J McCarty, AusDiab Steering Committee. (2000). The Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab)—methods and response rates. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, Volume 57, 119 - 129.