NEW YORK — Drug chains and their business partners are providing unique programs and services in recognition of American Diabetes Month.

CVS Caremark Corp.’s MinuteClinic health clinic subsidiary, for example, has teamed up with Bayer Diabetes Care to offer free A1c tests at its clinics in select CVS pharmacies nationwide through November 25.

“Our goal is to provide convenient locations where the more than 24 million Americans with diabetes can walk in and see a practitioner to receive advice and basic testing to help them better monitor their condition,” explains Andrew Sussman, president of MinuteClinic and senior vice president/associate chief medical officer at CVS Caremark. “The A1c test is the best measure available to assess a diabetes patient’s immediate condition and determine whether any changes in treatment and lifestyle habits are needed.”

At Rite Aid Corp., nearly 1,200 stores nationwide hosted Diabetes Solutions Days November 2 to November 4, offering free health screenings and self-management solutions to patients living with diabetes, caregivers and those concerned about diabetes.

Visitors also had the opportunity to get vaccinated against flu and/or pneumonia. Those vaccinations are considered especially important because flu and pneumonia kill between 10,000 and 30,000 diabetes patients every year.

The services are part of Rite Aid’s year-round focus to help diabetes patients take the best care of themselves. The chain also provides cholesterol, blood glucose and blood pressure screenings; body mass index (BMI) readings; and personal pharmacist consultations.

Rite Aid is also offering a free 20-page Diabetes Care guide that was developed with the American Diabetes Association. The guide is being provided in Rite Aid stores and online at riteaid.com/diabetes.