The Problem

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institute of Health (NIH), 23.6 million people in the United States , or 7.8% of the population, have diabetes. An estimated 17.9 million have been diagnosed; unfortunately 5.7 million people are undiagnosed. For African Americans, approximately 3.7 million ages 20 years and older (or 14.7%) have diabetes, with one-third being undiagnosed.  Regarding risk, African Americans are 1.8 times as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites of the same age.  Likewise, they are more likely to experience complications, such as kidney disease and amputations, compared to non-Hispanic white counterparts with diabetes.  Death rates for those with diabetes are 27 percent higher in African Americans compared to whites.

The Proposed Solution

Overview of the Diabetes Program

In response to these data, the National Medical Association (NMA) successfully competed for a five-year cooperative agreement—beginning in February 2005—with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to implement this diabetes education program as a National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) partner. To learn more about NDEP, click here.  The NMA Diabetes Education Program will engage in a number of educational activities targeting the general public, patients with type 2 diabetes, and physicians.

NMA Diabetes Education Program

Goal of the Program

The NMA Diabetes Outreach and Education Program will increase awareness about diabetes in the general public and improve treatment outcome of the patients of selected NMA physicians.
Hence, the collective effort of this project will contribute to decreasing the numbers of those diagnosed with the disease.  The goal of the NMA program is consistent with that of the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP) to reduce illnesses and deaths associated with diabetes and its complications.

Objectives of the Program

1. Form at least six community coalitions, lead by NMA society affiliates
2. Conduct community outreach and education.
3. Educate diabetes patients.
4. Educate NMA physicians.

The NMA Diabetes Education Program will increase awareness about diabetes in the general public and improve treatment outcome of the patients of selected NMA physicians. Effectively implementing this program will strengthen the capacity of NMA to reduce the disproportionate burden of diabetes among African Americans.