Initiatives and Policies Advancing Diabetes Prevention and Management

The New York State’s Governor’s Recognition Program for the Healthy Kids, Healthy New York After-School Initiative was established to acknowledge the programs that have successfully implemented the given guidelines. Programs that complete the voluntary self-assessment will enable providers to evaluate their programs and determine the level of recognition for which each program may be eligible.

Governor David A. Paterson and First Lady Michelle Paige Paterson announced November 5, 2008 the release of the "Healthy Kids, Healthy New York After-School Initiative" guidelines and toolkit that will help fight childhood obesity in New York's schools and communities by providing after-school programs with model guidelines. The guidelines are aimed at helping New York's children acquire healthy habits by incorporating nutritional food options into diets, increasing physical activity, and limiting the amount of time spent in front of a television on a daily basis.

This report from the New York State Comptroller’s office outlines the crisis of of childhood obesity and its cost to New York State.

In collaboration with the New York Diabetes Coalition, the Hudson Center for Health Equity and Quality developed Care Focus, a system to manage the care of people with diabetes.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the Office of the Mayor recently received funding from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation to convene a Partnership for Food and Fitness.

This October 2008 New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene campaign encourages residents to make the most of the City’s calorie-posting rules. 

New York State students in selected grades will undergo mandatory body mass index (BMI) screening starting in fall 2008, as part of a statewide effort to track and address childhood obesity.

This Independent Health Foundation initiative in Western New York is an eight-month program designed to encourage healthy habits needed to live a fit, active, and healthy lifestyle and fight the increase in obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

The New York State Department of Health funded 14 Community Coalitions for Diabetes Prevention throughout the State.

In December 2006, the New York City Board of Health approved a measure to amend the Health Code to require restaurants to make calorie information publicly available on the internet and/or in the restaurant itself, on menus and menu boards, where consumers can see it when they order. The measure was proposed by the New York City Department of Mental Health and Hygiene (NYCDOHMH). After several legal setbacks, the Board of Health was issued the authority to mandate calorie posting in September 2007.

The New York State Department of Health supports eight Diabetes Centers of Excellence throughout New York State.

The National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) is a federally funded program sponsored by the United States Department of Health and Human Services’ National Institutes of Health and the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It includes more than 200 partners at the federal, state, and local levels, working together to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with diabetes.

Be Active New York State works to increase physical activity, and to inspire New York State citizens to be physically active in their daily lives. Being physically active can help reduce the risk of diabetes.

The Harlem Business Wellness Initiative (HBWI) works to provide health care to local communities. Harlem is a community with a particularly high prevalence of diabetes and local health initiatives are an important piece of the effort to reduce diabetes morbidity and mortality.

In January 2006, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYCDOHMH) collaborated with 15 bodega owners in Central Brooklyn, South Bronx, and Harlem to pilot a program that offers 1% milk to customers.

The Pride of New York program is a community-based program that strives to increase awareness and distribution of New York agricultural products throughout New York City and State.

The New York State departments of Health and Education launched Activ8Kids! in January 2005 to fight childhood obesity and promote healthy lifestyles among New York State’s children.

In December 2006, the Board of Health and City Council approved the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s proposal to amend the Health Code. This proposal allowed for a partial phase-out of artificial trans fat in all New York City restaurants over an 18-month period.

The diabetes insurance law—which became effective in January 2004—states that medically necessary diabetes self-management education and education relating to diet will be covered by the insurer when it is provided by specified personnel.

Health Disparities Collaboratives is a nationwide initiative to improve care for people with chronic conditions, including diabetes.