Programs Improve Health Outcomes for Diabetes Patients in Pennsylvania

Highmark Foundation grants improve access to diabetes care and services

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- To coincide with National Diabetes
Awareness Month, the Highmark Foundation today released a report, "Improving
Access to Diabetes Care and Services in Pennsylvania through Coordinated
Strategies," which details the impact of the more than $1.6 million that the
foundation has provided to help increase access to diabetes care and services
for Pennsylvanians. Diabetes affects 760,000 individuals, or 6.1 percent of
the population, in Pennsylvania.

"Our grant making has supported programs that reduce the effects of diabetes
and improve the quality of life for people living with the disease," said
Yvonne Cook, president of the Highmark Foundation. "Diabetes can lead to
serious health complications, including heart disease and stroke,
hypertension, visual impairment, amputations, dental disease,
pregnancy-related complications or even premature death."

Four hospitals, a Federally Qualified Health Center, a spiritual and
health-based wellness project and a university received funding for programs
that have shown promising and measurable outcomes. The programs have reduced
the prevalence of diabetes and illustrated the effectiveness of early
intervention and preventive health programs.

-- Centers for Healthy Hearts and Souls (Allegheny County) received
$246,000 for the expansion of the Healthy Individual, Family Community
Program. Approximately 25 people have enrolled in the diabetes support
program and have been taught how to live with diabetes through
education, fitness and self-assessment.
-- Hamilton Health Center (Dauphin County) received $250,000 in support
of
the Healthy Outcomes Program for Uninsured Diabetics. With the grant,
the program provided more than 200 uninsured diabetes patients with
coordinated care services.
-- Meyersdale Medical Center (Somerset County) received $250,000 for the
development of the Healthy Education for Life Pre-Diabetes Program,
which has supported 17 participants by encouraging prevention, early
detection and management of chronic disease.
-- Miners Medical Center (Cambria, Indiana and Clearfield counties)
received $250,000 for the development of the Plan for Improving Health
Status of Diabetic Populations, which provided 23 participants with
access to education, medically necessary services, medical supplies
and
care management programs.
-- PinnacleHealth System (Dauphin County) received $252,570 to improve
ambulatory diabetes care among minority populations. The program
provided education services to create long-term behavior change and
improve the health status of patients through diabetes self-management
classes.
-- Uniontown Hospital (Fayette County) received $158,260 to establish a
diabetes clinic. More than 1,000 new patients have received
coordinated
services in a region where services were not previously available.

-- University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health - Center for
Minority Health (Allegheny County) received $200,000 for the Healthy
Black Family Project. More than 7,100 patients enrolled in the
program,
which provides resources for minorities and families to help reduce
the
risk of heart disease and diabetes by offering access to health
promotion and disease prevention resources.

For more information on the Highmark Foundation's approach to addressing
diabetes and outcomes of the grants, read the complete report on the Highmark
Foundation page of www.highmark.com .

About the Highmark Foundation
The Highmark Foundation, created in 2000 as an affiliate of Highmark Inc., is
a charitable organization and a private foundation that supports initiatives
and programs aimed at improving community health. The foundation's mission is
to improve the health, well-being and quality of life for individuals who
reside in the Pennsylvania communities served by Highmark Inc. The foundation
awards two types of grants: Highmark Healthy High 5, which includes a focus on
the health and well-being of children in the areas of physical activity,
nutrition, self-esteem, bullying and grieving; and its traditional four areas
of general health focus, which include chronic disease, communicable disease,
family health and service delivery systems. Where possible, the foundation
looks to support evidence-based programs that impact multiple counties and
work collaboratively to leverage additional funding to achieve replicable
models. For more information about the Highmark Foundation, visit
www.highmark.com.

Improving Access to Diabetes Care and Services in Pennsylvania through
Coordinated Strategies

The Impact and Economics of Diabetes

-- Diabetes affects 23.6 million children and adults in the United States
or 8 percent of the population. (American Diabetes Association, 2009)
-- In Pennsylvania, 760,000 persons, or 6.1 percent of the population,
are
affected by diabetes. (Pennsylvania Department of Health, 2009)
-- Nationally, approximately 17 million persons are diagnosed with
diabetes, 5.7 million are undiagnosed and 57 million are pre-diabetic.
(American Diabetes Association, 2009)
-- One in seven Americans either has diabetes or is at high risk for
developing it. (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2004)
-- Diabetes is the sixth underlying cause of death (after controlling for
age) for 10,357 Pennsylvania residents, with a death rate of 23.4
percent. (Pennsylvania Health Profile, 2008)
-- Of Pennsylvania's 67 counties, 19 have significantly higher rates of
diabetes prevalence than that of the state's average. (The Burden of
Diabetes in Pennsylvania, 2007)

-- The aggregate costs of diabetes in Pennsylvania exceeds $6 billion
(includes medical costs of $4.5 billion and indirect costs of $2.3
billion). (American Diabetes Association, 2009)

Trends in Diabetes Care

Several new trends in care have emerged as lasting methods that help diabetics
to maintain good control of blood glucose levels, a key to reducing
diabetic-related health complications and improving the quality of life for
patients.

-- Culturally specific care: Because the prevalence of diabetes is higher
in minority populations, culturally competent diabetes self-management
education is effective in improving health outcomes for minority
populations, increasing compliance with standards of self-care and
choosing appropriate management strategies to improve health outcomes.
-- Supportive care and services: Many health-related issues may arise
because of diabetes. So, primary care physicians are collaborating
with
an extensive team of specialists such as podiatrists,
ophthalmologists,
dentists, dietitians and endocrinologists to eliminate barriers and
allow patients to receive services, including medical supplies,
exercise
programs, foot exams, eye exams dental care and nutrition education
during one office visit.
-- U.S. Diabetes conversation maps: Approved by the American Diabetes
Association, the maps offer a unique approach in facilitating
empowerment among individuals in group diabetes education settings.
The
maps create a visual and mental model for diabetes patients to learn,
remember, internalize and personalize health information.

-- Technology: State-of-the-art Continuous Glucose Monitoring records
blood
sugar levels and helps identify fluctuations and trends that would
otherwise go unnoticed.

SOURCE Highmark Foundation

Kaitlin O'Brien of Highmark Inc., +1-412-544-6006,
kaitlin.obrien@highmark.com