The Diabetes Foundation and Wakefern Food Corp., the supermarket cooperative behind the ShopRite banner, have launched a statewide initiative helping New Jersey residents facing financial barriers access blood glucose monitoring supplies.
The program pairs the foundation’s no-cost Supply Assistance program – which delivers a blood glucose meter, a lancing device, lancets and enough test strips for 100 checks directly to eligible residents’ homes – with reduced-cost replacement supplies at participating ShopRite pharmacies once starter kits run out. The combination is designed to serve residents who are uninsured, underinsured or experiencing financial hardship, giving them a local, lower-cost option beyond the initial assistance period.
Monitoring is vital
“Diabetes management begins with access to the right tools, and ongoing blood sugar monitoring is an essential part of understanding and managing diabetes effectively,” said Ginine Cilenti, executive director of the Diabetes Foundation. “This partnership helps remove a financial barrier that can prevent people from monitoring consistently and gives them greater opportunity to stay on track with their health and meet their blood sugar goals.”
“We are proud to work with the Diabetes Foundation on this important program, which helps eligible New Jersey residents obtain critical diabetes monitoring supplies at a reduced cost through ShopRite Pharmacies,” said Aaron Sapp, VP of pharmacy and wellness for Wakefern. “Together, we are working to remove barriers to ensure that individuals and families have access to the tools they need to monitor their health with confidence.”
More than 9 percent of residents affected
According to the CDC’s U.S. Diabetes Surveillance System, 9.1 percent of New Jersey adults had diagnosed diabetes in 2023. The Diabetes Foundation, a 36-year-old nonprofit, provides free diabetes navigation, education and supply assistance statewide, with no insurance required.
Founded in 1946, Keasbey, New Jersey-based Wakefern is the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the United States, with members independently operating hundreds of supermarkets under the ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, The Fresh Grocer, Dearborn Market, Gourmet Garage, Fairway Market, Di Bruno Bros. and Morton Williams banners in nine Northeastern states.