2026 Eastern States Conference

Title: Impact of a Clinical Pharmacy Diabetes Service on Glycemic Outcomes in Patients Newly Initiated on GLP-1 Receptor Agonists
Authors: Abosede Onibon-oje, PharmD; Kelly Goldberg, PharmD, BCACP; Kristen Fink, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, CDCES; Emmanuel Kim, PharmD
Objective: At the conclusion of my presentation, the participant will be able to describe the impact of pharmacist-led diabetes services on A1c reduction and medication-related outcomes in adults newly initiated on GLP-1 receptor agonists
Self Assessment Question: What impact did pharmacist-led diabetes services have on glycemic outcomes among adults newly initiated on GLP-1 receptor agonists?
Background: Clinical pharmacy involvement at GLP-1 initiation may improve glycemic outcomes. This study evaluated the impact of a pharmacist-led diabetes service on changes in A1c and medication outcomes in adults with Type 2 diabetes.
Methods: This is an observational retrospective cohort study in Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States (KPMAS) patients with Type 2 diabetes newly initiated on a GLP-1 receptor agonist and managed by a clinical pharmacy diabetes service compared with a usual care cohort without pharmacist involvement between September 2024 and August 2025. All data was collected from KPMAS electronic medical records. Patients under 18 years of age or using GLP-1 receptor agonists for non-T2DM indications were excluded. The primary outcome was change in A1c from baseline to program discharge at six months in the intervention group and from initiation to six months in the control group. Secondary outcomes included GLP-1 adherence, adverse events, and patient retention. Descriptive statistics summarized baseline characteristics, and independent t-tests were used to compare mean A1c change between groups, with statistical significance set at alpha 0.05. Patient retention and follow-up rates were summarized descriptively based on the availability of discharge or 6-month A1c data.
Results: A total of 178 patients were included (pharmacist intervention = 89; usual care n=89). Mean A1c reduction was significantly greater in the pharmacist intervention group compared with usual care (−1.8 ± 1.4% vs −0.5 ± 1.8%, p < 0.001). A greater proportion of patients in the pharmacist group achieved an A1c reduction of at least 1%. Medication adherence to GLP-1 receptor agonists at discharge was high in the pharmacist intervention group, and adverse events were infrequent and primarily gastrointestinal. Retention was 100% in both groups, as all patients had available discharge or 6-month A1c values.
Conclusion: Clinical pharmacy involvement at GLP-1 receptor agonist initiation was associated with improved glycemic outcomes compared with usual care. These findings support the role of pharmacist-led diabetes services in optimizing early GLP-1 therapy and highlight the value of pharmacists in chronic disease management and interdisciplinary care models.