NACDD Receives Two-Year Grant from Merck & Co., Inc. to Improve Diabetes Education

March 10, 2010

March 10th, 2010
NACDD Receives Two-Year Grant From Merck & Co., Inc. to Improve Diabetes Education

The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors' Diabetes Council has received a two-year grant from Merck & Co., Inc. to launch the Journey for Control of Diabetes EDGE Program (Evaluating Diabetes Group Education). The goal of the EDGE Program is to improve diabetes education by enhancing the role of state and territorial Diabetes Prevention and Control Programs (DPCPs) in increasing the use of U.S. Diabetes Conversation Maps.

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) February 10, 2010 — The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors' Diabetes Council has received a two-year grant from Merck & Co., Inc. to launch the Journey for Control of Diabetes EDGE Program (Evaluating Diabetes Group Education). The goal of the EDGE Program is to improve diabetes education by enhancing the role of state and territorial Diabetes Prevention and Control Programs (DPCPs) in increasing the use of U.S. Diabetes Conversation Maps. A special emphasis will be placed in serving populations with the greatest need, in particular patients who experience diabetes-related health disparities at levels greater than the general population.

The U.S. Diabetes Conversation Maps are a unique new tool developed by Healthy Interactions, Inc. in collaboration with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) through support provided by Merck. The Maps are used to educate and engage people with diabetes in their own health with a series of face-to-face, dialogue-driven sessions guided by a trained diabetes educator. They help encourage people with diabetes to relate what they learn in these sessions to their own experiences, and make plans to put that learning to work in their everyday lives. "Diabetes can have devastating effects on quality of life unless it is appropriately treated and managed," said John Robitscher, NACDD's Executive Director. "We are thrilled to have the opportunity to contribute to greater understanding of barriers to diabetes self-care and to help improve access to such an important health management and educational tool."

The EDGE Program will focus on three primary goals: first, to identify and enhance understanding of ways to improve group diabetes self-management education programs using the U.S. Diabetes Conversation Maps; second, to identify the roles of state and territorial DPCPs in fostering use of the Maps to better serve those with diabetes-related health disparities; and third, to explore the use of Spanish-version of the Maps.

Many people who have diabetes do not have proper access to education and care and this program will focus on finding ways to bring group diabetes education using the Maps to populations who have documented disparities in diabetes healthcare, including: (1) self-identified individuals from racial/ethnic minority groups, (2) individuals who have low or inadequate incomes, (3) individuals who are un-insured or under-insured; and (4) individuals who are more comfortable using Spanish.

"NACDD's Diabetes Council has been a leader in identifying and providing solutions in the field of diabetes," said Dr. Sethu Reddy, Merck's U.S. Director of Medical Affairs – Diabetes. "We look forward to working with the Council to improve the prevention and management of diabetes and to better serve the almost 24 million people in the U.S. who suffer from the disease, especially those who currently do not receive appropriate diabetes education."

The NACDD Diabetes Council provides leadership for the 59 state and territorial DPCPs. In collaboration with CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation (DDT) and other national organizations, the Diabetes Council accomplishes its mission by identifying and addressing the prevention and control of diabetes; sharing information on state diabetes services; and recommending and advocating for improved policies and programs at the state and national level. The Diabetes Council also assists state health agencies in establishing coordinated, population-based diabetes prevention and control programs.

About the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD)
The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) is a national public health association for chronic disease program directors of each state and U.S. territory. The NACDD works to reduce the impact of chronic diseases on the American population by advocating for preventive policies and programs, encouraging sharing of knowledge and developing partnerships for health promotion. (www.chronicdisease.org).

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Contact Information
Beth Roberts
202-778-3810