June 2008

Reversing the Diabetes Epidemic in New York State

The bad news: diabetes has reached crisis level in New York State. More than 1.5 million New Yorkers have diabetes—more people than could fill Yankee Stadium 27 times. The prevalence of diabetes has doubled in the last decade, and it is the only chronic disease still on the rise.

The good news: we know what to do. Unlike many other diseases, we know how to prevent diabetes and—for those that have it—we know how to manage it. But while many efforts are underway to better manage diabetes, there has yet to be a comprehensive and coordinated strategy to take what we know needs to happen and spread it throughout New York State.

That’s why the New York State Health Foundation (NYSHealth) launched the New York State Diabetes Campaign to reverse the diabetes epidemic. NYSHealth has committed $35 Million to the effort—one of the largest single investments to fight diabetes in New York State.

We also know that it takes more than educating the public about diabetes or making small grants to a few organizations. It takes more than hosting health fairs and ensuring providers know how to treat diabetes. While those are important activities, reversing a problem of this magnitude requires a comprehensive and sustained effort.

This Campaign will engage providers to better mange care for people who have diabetes and convene a full range of community leaders to create an environment that keeps people from getting the disease. We need everyone at the table—providers, faith-based organizations, community organizations, insurers, employers, the State government, pharmacies, and foundations—working toward reversing the diabetes epidemic. And not just a few. We need a mass of these State leaders focusing on common goals and strategies, and working together to see real change at the State level.

To achieve this, the Campaign will focus on three areas:

improving clinical care for people with diabetes to ensure that people living with diabetes receive the right care, at the right time, and in the right setting to achieve the best health outcomes;
mobilizing existing community assets to help prevent and manage diabetes and identify people with diabetes who do not know they have it; and
promoting policies that can sustain a comprehensive, coordinated care system for patients with diabetes and to enable community-based strategies, such as making nutritious foods and recreation spaces more available.

James R. Knickman, President and CEO