UnitedHealth Group Brings Its Diabetes Prevention And Control Alliance Program To Safeway Stores In Tucson

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) today announced that Safeway Inc. (NYSE: SWY) is joining the Diabetes Prevention and Control Alliance (DPCA), giving its customers in select markets access to the Alliance’s innovative, community-based programs that use proven approaches to help prevent and control diabetes.

Safeway is now offering the Diabetes Control Program at stores in Tucson, Ariz., and in the future will include Seattle-area stores.

Safeway, an industry leader in health and wellness strategies, joins UnitedHealth Group, the YMCA, Walgreen’s, Novo Nordisk and others as Alliance partners.

Safeway will participate in the Alliance’s Diabetes Control Program, which provides patient education and support from trained pharmacists to help people with diabetes better control their condition and reduce the risk of developing complications, such as cardiovascular, kidney and eye disease. In-store pharmacists in select Safeway locations will conduct blood glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure testing services for program participants and provide them with on-the-spot results, enabling patients to get immediate feedback on their status or progress in managing their diabetes.

“Safeway continues to be a leader in advancing innovative solutions to help our customers live healthier lives, and providing tools and services to prevent disease,” said Darren Singer, Safeway senior vice president of pharmacy, health and wellness. “Diabetes continues to take a devastating toll on families and communities, and through Safeway’s participation in the DPCA, we are helping provide greater access to care for our customers and helping them manage and take control of this disease.”

“Safeway is an important new partner in our efforts to reach more people living with diabetes and provide them with greater access to preventive measures and resources to take better control of their health,” said Deneen Vojta, M.D., senior vice president, UnitedHealth Center for Health Reform & Modernization. “Diabetes affects so many individuals, families and communities and through partners like Safeway, we are able to broaden the Alliance’s reach and will be able to make greater progress against this epidemic.”