Diabetes is a disease that keeps the body from making or using insulin, a hormone that helps convert sugar, starches and other food into the energy your body needs to function. Diabetes can lead to other problems such as heart disease, kidney disease, blindness and loss of limbs. People who have diabetes have at least two times greater risk of heart disease and stroke than those who do not.

In Washington state in 2005, more than 300,000 people had been diagnosed with diabetes and it is estimated that more than 125,000 have diabetes but have not been diagnosed and 1 million people are "pre-diabetic." Diabetes is the fifth leading cause of death in Washington among adults 20 to 74 years old. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Washington State Department of Health

The estimated direct and indirect financial costs associated with diabetes were $174 billion nationwide in 2007, and $3.9 billion for Washington state in 2006.

Patients and Caregivers

• Visit your doctor regularly to monitor your health and diabetes status.
• Keep a record of the results of your visits and actions to take care of yourself.
• Work with your doctor to make (and keep) a realistic eating and exercise plan.
• Check your blood sugar levels at home regularly.
• Check your feet daily for sores or other signs of problems.
• Stop smoking.

Doctors and Other Health Care Professionals

• Use a registry to track care for your patients with diabetes.
• Send reminders to your patients to encourage them to come in for needed care.
• Educate your patients about what they need to do to take care of themselves too.

For each patient, check the following:

• Blood sugar level (HBA1c) at each visit
• Feet at each visit
• Blood pressure at each visit
• LDL Cholesterol at least once a year
• Kidney function at least once a year
• Eyes at least once every 1 or 2 years
• Provide a flu shot each year

Employers and Other Health Care Purchasers

• Offer health coverage with no or low co-payments for required medical services, tests, supplies and medications for employees and dependents who have diabetes.
• Offer confidential diabetes risk screening at the workplace to help employees know whether they may be at risk for or have diabetes (and do not yet know it).
• Provide healthy eating options in the vending machines and cafeteria.
• Create opportunities for employees to get physical activity at work (walk breaks, use stairs).

Health Plans

• Cover recommended diabetes care, supplies and medication with low- or no co-payments to reduce or eliminate cost barriers for patients with diabetes.
• Help physicians track whether their patients with diabetes have received recommended services or routinely refilled prescriptions for important medications.
• Include in benefits coverage for diabetes education between patients and providers.

American Diabetes Association
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Diabetes Resources for Patients
Puget Sound Health Alliance Clinical Improvement Report on Diabetes