Nutrition is a fundamental part of type 2 diabetes management, yet many patients find it difficult to meet dietary recommendations in everyday life.

In this interview from our GP series, introduced for Pharmacy listeners by Anna Theophilos, Dr Anita Sharma and Dr Ginni Mansberg discuss the role of diabetes-specific nutritional formulas (DSNFs) as part of a broader diabetes management plan. They introduce a new 3-step clinical practice framework to help healthcare professionals assess patient suitability, tailor the approach and monitor progress.

They also explore practical considerations for incorporating DSNFs alongside glucose-lowering therapies, including SGLT2 inhibitors, insulin and GLP-1 receptor agonists, with a focus on glycaemic management, weight, nutritional intake and preserving lean muscle mass.

Comprehensive, patient-centred vaccination services don’t happen by accident. Older adults carry a disproportionate burden of vaccine-preventable disease, yet many opportunities to protect them are being missed.

In Part 1 of this miniseries, we explore why ageing changes the risk profile, the growing role of pharmacy, and the systems and workflows that underpin successful vaccination services.

Every interaction is an opportunity. Through practical case scenarios and common patient questions, Part 2 explores how pharmacists can identify vaccination gaps, address misinformation, discuss co-administration, and help improve vaccine uptake in older Australians.

Comprehensive, patient-centred vaccination services don’t happen by accident. Older adults carry a disproportionate burden of vaccine-preventable disease, yet many opportunities to protect them are being missed.

In Part 1 of this miniseries, we explored why ageing changes the risk profile, the growing role of pharmacy, and the systems and workflows that underpin successful vaccination services.

Every interaction is an opportunity. Through practical case scenarios and common patient questions, Part 2 explores how pharmacists can identify vaccination gaps, address misinformation, discuss co-administration, and help improve vaccine uptake in older Australians.

Since the launch of the National RSV Mother and Infant Protection Program on 3 February 2025, more than 295,000 doses of the RSV maternal vaccination have been administered to pregnant people across Australia. Data from 13 hospitals across Australia show that we are now seeing a real-world impact consistent with the Phase 3 data. But every missed recommendation is a missed opportunity to protect newborns during their most vulnerable months.

In this interview, paediatrician Dr Daryl Cheng explores the burden of RSV in infants, reviews the safety and effectiveness of maternal vaccination, and discusses why GP recommendations remain critical to protecting babies from their first breath and reducing severe disease and hospitalisation.

Migraine is more than just a headache. Anyone who has suffered a migraine knows that it can be debilitating and lead to significant loss of time from everyday activities and work. With 4.9 million suffering migraines in Australia and 7.6% of those with 15 or more migraine days every month.

Triptans are a class of drug widely used to treat acute migraine. In 2021 triptans were down-scheduled from Schedule 4 to Schedule 3, pharmacist-only medicines.

While the move could be beneficial for people who suffer from migraine, pharmacists will need to equip themselves with the knowledge to help this patient cohort manage their condition and identify when triptans are appropriate to use.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), is one of several highly prevalent multi-symptom functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGIDs) that has a wide clinical spectrum. Patients suffering from IBS and FGID symptoms often find it impacts their daily life, affects their quality of life, and even upsets their work. In this final interview in the series, we discuss the management options available, including evidence-based treatments, dietary therapy and psychological therapies.