Over the past decade the number of diabetes cases nationwide has increased by 90 percent, according to the CDC, making it the fastest-growing disease in the U.S.
Oprah Winfrey recently devoted an entire episode of “The Oprah Winfrey Show” to the prevention and treatment of diabetes – and pointed viewers to a nationwide free diabetes-testing campaign underway at Walgreens. During the first day after the show aired, more than 80,000 people visited Walgreens for testing. Approximately the same number of people were tested over the entire month of November when the pharmacy ran its previous free diabetes testing event. That time the pharmacy had NOT partnered with a TV show. (Drug Store News, 3/1/10)
Considering Oprah’s public entrance into U.S. politics during President Obama’s run for the White House, could the administration harness her marketing power and direct the infamous “Oprah Effect” at the nation’s rising healthcare costs?
Risa Hess
Tags: Diabetes, Oprah Winfrey, Walgreens
