Promoting Equity in Diabetes Management
Improving health outcomes for communities of color living with Type 2 diabetes has never been more critical.
Type 2 diabetes rates are rapidly rising among young adults, and many are experiencing complications, such as heart and kidney disease, that are impacting their health into adulthood. Evidence also demonstrates the heightened dangers of uncontrolled glucose levels and diabetes management during the COVID-19 pandemic, with increased risk of severe illness and up to four times greater likelihood of death. With rates of diabetes and related complications more common among people of color, the need to address health disparities and improve equity in access to care is more crucial than ever.
through Diabetes Management
Type 2 diabetes outcomes in communities of color have historically
been plagued with persistent disparities and patients often face barriers
to evidence-based treatment and support.
ADDRESS CHALLENGES
SHC is working to address these challenges through its newly launched diabetes Driving Real Improvement in Value and Equity (DRIVE) Toolkit. The new model offers free, customizable strategies and resources to address issues such as evidence-based care, patient engagement and education, access to medications, and adherence to treatment as well as connection to needed social supports such as transportation and healthy food.
IDENTIFY APPROACHES
SHC can help you identify approaches that best suit your health system and practices, with expert coaching and financial assistance to implement strategies that improve diabetes management. Contact shc@nmqf.org for more information about how we can support your efforts. To read more about how the DRIVE framework can help you improve equity for underserved diabetes patients, download the brochure, or click here to explore the DRIVE module.
The COVID-19 pandemic helped draw attention to the issue of racial and ethnic disparities in health care, particularly in diabetes.
Uncontrolled diabetes and/or hyperglycemia are associated with severe COVID-19 disease and increased mortality. It is now known that poor glucose control before hospital admission can be associated with a high risk of in-hospital death. Practicing new approaches to care and empowering disease self-management to play vital roles in achieving and maintaining glycemic control to improve patient outcomes.
Primary care teams, pharmacists, specialists, other care providers, community leaders, and patient advocates can close the gap.
Healthcare teams can improve outcomes by providing patient education, tools for self-management of Type 2 diabetes, and guidance on access to care and support. Public health and community leaders can build equity for underserved patients by raising awareness of the lifelong burden diabetes poses and educating the public on measures people can follow to manage their diabetes or support those they know living with the disease.
Reach
Out!
