Center for Managing Chronic Disease - Putting People at the Center of Solutions

The Alliance to Reduce Disparities in Diabetes

Health care disparities refer to differences or inequities in access to and outcomes of health services. In the United States, these disparities for many chronic health conditions, including diabetes, are a growing national concern. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly 24 million people - almost 8 percent of the U.S. population - are living with diabetes. Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90 to 95 percent of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.To address the growing problem of health care disparities in the context of type 2 diabetes in the United States among low-income and underserved adult populations, The Merck Company Foundation - the philanthropic arm of Merck & Co., Inc. - launched the Alliance to Reduce Disparities in Diabetes (Alliance) with a commitment of $15 million through 2013.

The Center for Managing Chronic Disease has been selected as the National Program Office for the five sites participating in the Alliance. 

GOALS OF THE ALLIANCE:

The Alliance aims to help decrease diabetes disparities and enhance the quality of health care by improving prevention and management services.
The Alliance will work with national, regional and community partners to develop and implement comprehensive, evidence-based diabetes
programs that will:

  • Apply proven, community-based and collaborative approaches to address health care disparities related to type 2 diabetes among low-income and underserved adult populations
  • Enhance patient and health care provider communication, mobilize community partners and assist health care organizations to decrease disparities in diabetes care
  • Disseminate important findings to aid in the development of comprehensive prevention and management programs to help improve the quality of health care for adults who have or are at risk for diabetes
  • Increase public awareness of health care disparities and diabetes
  • Promote collaboration and information exchange to strengthen the efforts of interested stakeholders and organizations around the country that share the vision and goals of the Alliance

For more information contact Alliance Program Office Deputy Director, Julia Dodge:  jadodge@umich.edu or http://alliancefordiabetes.org/