Improving Healthcare for the Common Good

Diabetes Disparities Initiative

(En Español)

From 1980 through 2005, the number of people with diabetes has more than tripled (5.8 million to 20.8 million). The diagnoses of diabetes among African American and Hispanic/Latino patients far exceeds the diagnoses of diabetes for Caucasians across all age groups. For example, compared to Caucasians, African Americans are 1.6 times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes and suffer from complications related to the disease, including kidney failure, eye disease, and amputation. Roughly one in eight New York City residents has diabetes, and nearly 60% of NYC adults diagnosed with diabetes are African American or Hispanic.

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Diabetes Self-management Education Programs (DSME)

IPRO is one of a select group of Quality Improvement Organizations working under the direction of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to promote a diabetes self-management program for Medicare beneficiaries in "underserved" populations who have diabetes. This program, called "Every Diabetic Counts," focuses on increasing patients' knowledge of diabetes management. It also works to improve healthcare provider use of important diabetes management tests through community and partnership outreach.

• Learn more about the Every Diabetic Counts national initiative.

What We're Doing

IPRO is working with 64 physician offices, community health centers and hospital-based clinics to provide diabetes self-management education to 2,500 Medicare beneficiaries in the New York City area. This education is provided in the form of our Diabetes Wellness Workshops, delivered in communities all over New York City through local community health workers at convenient locations in the communities themselves.

Why a Community-Based Approach?

Our network of partners includes hundreds of senior centers, churches and community organizations, as well as health coalitions, state and local government and professional organizations. By providing our Diabetes Wellness Workshops through these community partners, we make access easy for patients all over New York City and ensure that the courses are delivered by people who are trusted in their communities and can most effectively communicate with patients.

Learn More

To find out more about the work IPRO is doing to improve diabetes self-management and how it might apply to you, please click on one of the links in the sidebar to the left of this page.

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