KDHE AWARDS GRANTS FOR DIABETES PROJECTS

In recognition of Diabetes Awareness Month, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is giving thirty-three grants to hospitals, clinics, community health centers, and health departments across the state to improve diabetes care. (See attached list for names of recipients).

Rural and urban health care providers will use the $10,000 grants to adopt a Chronic Care Model to improve diabetes care. This model identifies the essential components of a health system that support high-quality chronic disease care. These elements are the community, the health system, self-management support, delivery system design, decision support and clinical information systems. Implementation of the model results in informed and activated patients working in partnership with a proactive health care team to produce healthier patients and cost savings.

A 2003 government survey (Kansas Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey) indicated that 6% of Kansans have been diagnosed with diabetes, a disease in which blood glucose levels are abnormally high, putting individuals at risk for numerous health complications including eye and nerve damage, kidney disease and amputations.

In 2002, diabetes was the 7 th leading cause of death in Kansas. Heart disease and stroke kills two out of three people with diabetes. People with diabetes are urged to take steps to control their blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

A study this year in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Jan. 2004) showed that fewer than one out of ten people with diabetes meet the recommended guidelines for blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol. Use of the Chronic Care Model will save lives by increasing the number of Kansans meeting these goals.

Recommended Goals Are:

• Blood glucose - Hemoglobin A1c less that 7 percent
• Blood pressure - Less than 130/80
• Cholesterol (LDL) - below 100

More than one million Kansans, almost one-half the total population of the state, are at risk for diabetes because of their age, weight and inactive lifestyles. The Diabetes Primary Prevention Study showed that a modest weight loss of five to seven percent of total body weight through diet modification and moderate exercise such as walking 30 minutes a day at least five days a week can help prevent or delay the onset of diabetes.

Below is a list of the grant recipients:

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