NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TAKES STEPS TO HELP PEOPLE WITH DIABETES

In 2011, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) joined forces with the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors to participate in the Diabetes Leadership Initiative (DLI), a three-year project designed to address the serious and growing impact of diabetes and its related complications. Since initiation, the project has reached over 1,100 New Yorkers with diabetes through awareness activities and strategies designed to promote early detection and management of diabetes complications. As part of the DLI, the NYSDOH is working with Hudson River HealthCare’s health centers in Yonkers and Spring Valley to address the kidney and foot complications associated with the disease. The project is also active in North Carolina, Michigan and Wisconsin. 

The NYSDOH has implemented changes designed to engage, motivate and empower those living with diabetes. These include: 

• Fighting diabetes in a digital age: Electronic health records (EHRs) are increasingly important for providing efficient health care. The DLI has worked with participating healthcare providers to utilize EHRs to identify patients with advanced diabetic kidney disease. Once identified, the primary care provider encourages these individuals to attend classes that can help them better manage their diabetes. The DLI has also worked to embed educational resources into EHRs, so physicians have these tools right at their fingertips during appointments. 

• Motivation through group education: Group education sessions with a registered dietitian and/or certified diabetes educator offer people with diabetes the opportunity to learn in a casual, stress-free environment. Through these visits, people with diabetes can form relationships and develop a support system with their peers. 

• Embracing multicultural diversity: The DLI project in New York tailors educational opportunities to reach the Hispanic and Haitian populations living in the communities it serves. In particular, the healthcare team hosts dual-language, free community education days and provides culturally appropriate recipes to the individuals they treat. 

The prevalence of diabetes continues to rise in the U.S. and some experts estimate as many as one in three adults could have the disease by 2050.  The rising prevalence of diabetes nationally is also reflected in New York, where the prevalence of self-reported diabetes among adults has nearly doubled from 4.6 percent in 1996-1998 to 8.5 percent in 2007-2009. 

For more information about the DLI, please visit www.DiabetesLeadershipInitiative.com. The DLI is supported by Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Eli Lilly and Company.