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March 2011 News

As we settle into March, hopefully spring will not be far behind! Here are some items that may be of interest:

Innovations in Health Care Awards
Applications are being sought for the annual Innovations in Health Care award to all possible hospitals, physicians, managed care organizations, primary care settings, dialysis units, community organizations, etc for innovative treatment and prevention programs in the areas of diabetes, cardiovascular disease (including physical activity and nutrition) and kidney disease. Three projects will be awarded and awardees will be recognized at the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan Champions of Hope Tribute Dinner on May 10th, 2011. Application deadline is March 25th, 2011. View the information form, and application.

Women at High Risk for Diabetes Report
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) recently released the report Women at High Risk for Diabetes: Access and Quality of Health Care, 2003-2006 . This joint effort compared the quality of preventive health care received by U.S. women at high risk for diabetes with that for U.S. women not at high risk for diabetes. The report presents quality measures across several crucial elements of health care: access to care, general health and well-being, and use of preventive care and behaviors. To view the report please visit:

www.ahrq.gov/populations/womendiab2010/womendiab2010.pdf

CDC County Level Estimates for Leisure-Time Physical Activity Data
Estimates of leisure-time physical inactivity (or lack of physical activity or exercise) are now available for all U.S counties or county equivalents. The numbers are derived from the census and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). This data can be used to supplement existing county-level estimates available for obesity and diagnosed diabetes and can help aid community based interventions, community design efforts, and raise awareness. For more information, please see:

apps.nccd.cdc.gov/DDT_STRS2/NationalDiabetesPrevalenceEstimates.aspx?mode=PHY

Alliance to Reduce Disparities in Diabetes
The Alliance to Reduce Disparities in Diabetes works with national, community, and regional partners to develop and implement evidenced based programs to address health care disparities related to Type 2 diabetes. The Alliance is working with five project sites across the country to reduce disparities in diabetes care, raise awareness, and promote collaboration and strengthen efforts of community stakeholders and organizations. Check out the each of the featured projects on You Tube www.youtube.com/user/AllianceDiabetes and also available on the Alliance website: ardd.sph.umich.edu/. The Center for Managing Chronic Disease (CMCD), serves as the National Program Office for the Alliance to Reduce Disparities in Diabetes. The Alliance is also supported by the Merck Company Foundation.

GDAHC Health Futures 2011 Conference
The Greater Detroit Area Health Council (GDAHC) will be putting on a symposium on obesity. Keynote speaker will be Ms. Olga Dazzo, Director of the Michigan Department of Community Health. The conference will be on Wednesday, May 11th, from 8:30am-3:30pm. For registration information please visit the GDAHC website, www.gdahc.org/

AHA Community Action Grants
The American Heart Association (AHA) Community Action Grants are now available. The purpose of the Community Action Grant initiative is to improve the cardiovascular health of the communities and help the AHA mission to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke. Grants are awarded up to $5,000 for community wide projects. Application deadline is April 1st, 2011 and funding will start July 1st. For more information on the grant and past awarded projects please see AHA Community Action Grant Application.

Michigan BRFSS Surveillance Brief
The Michigan Department of Community Health has released the latest issue of the Michigan BRFSS Surveillance Briefs entitled "Secondhand Smoke Exposure by Race/Ethnicity & Health Problems by Secondhand Smoke Exposure Status". Information on the brief includes prevalence of health conditions (including diabetes) by second-hand smoke exposure status. For more information please see www.michigan.gov/brfs.

Prediabetes Article
The article: Implications of Alternative Definitions of Prediabetes for Prevalence in U.S. Adults inDiabetes Care, 2011 Feb; 34(2):387-91 examined the degree of agreement between A1c, fasting plasma glucose, and oral glucose tolerance test results on the prevalence of prediabetes. The study concluded that the prevalence of diabetes varied depending on the indicator that was used to measure risk. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?term=%20Implications%20of%20Alternative%20Definitions%20of%20Prediabetes%20for%20Prevalence%20in%20U.S.%20Adults.



Upcoming Meetings
DPAC Board Meeting: Thursday, March 31st, 9:00am-12:30pm
Diabetes and Kidney Day: Thursday, April 14th, 9:00am-3:00pm
Full Membership Meeting: Thursday, May 5th, 9:00am-4:00pm