Image of the state of Pennsylvania The Pennsylvania Diabetes Prevention and Control Program (DPCP) has received funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) since 1981. An integral part of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, the DPCP strives to reduce the burden of diabetes in Pennsylvania and improve the quality of life of those Pennsylvanians having diabetes by preventing and controlling its complications. Complemented by state resources, CDC funding supports the following activities:

Development of partnership. DPCP staff create partnerships with communities, provider and health care systems, worksites and schools to assist each entity in effectively addressing diabetes and diabetes related issues. Work with these partnerships include use of the Diabetes Today curriculum, the Diabetes at Work website from the National Diabetes Education Program, and the development of a Pennsylvania based Diabetes in School manual.

Support of professional education. Diabetes focused educational events, information dissemination, and collaboration with professional organizations are aimed at increasing the level of knowledge among a host of health care professionals. One example is the partnership with the Pennsylvania Medical Society, and educational and advocacy organization of healthcare professionals, to develop and issue two diabetes focused issues of their statewide provider education newsletter, titled Counter Details, in both hard copy and on line. A wide variety of health care professionals, including family practitioners, endocrinologists, registered nurses and others, can earn CMEs after completion of questions on the information presented in the newsletters.

Facilitation of the activities of the Pennsylvania Diabetes Action Partnership. Nearly 300 stakeholders from across Pennsylvania have given their time, talent and energy to the creation of the first Pennsylvania Diabetes Action Plan. The Partnership is convened by the DPCP, and their continued focus is on coordinating their efforts statewide to address diabetes and its related issues. This group meets together on a biannual basis as well as throughout the year via workgroups focused on Surveillance, Evaluation, Health Policy and Standards of Care.

Promotion of culturally appropriate strategies and interventions. The DPCP works with partners across the state to focus strategies and interventions targeting disproportionately affected populations. Populations are reached through funded activities, through the development of partnerships, and through the provision of resources and information.

Surveillance of the burden of diabetes. Although the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey serves as the major source of data for the DPCP, the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council which provides data on hospital admissions, is also a contributor and members of the Partnership are exploring collecting data from other sources such as the Medicaid Program, private insurance companies and various hospital systems from across the state. The DPCP publishes The Burden of Diabetes in Pennsylvania biannually and provides annual updates as well as data on selected diabetes topics.

Resources

The Pennsylvania Diabetes Action Plan. The Pennsylvania Diabetes Action Partnership, convened by the DPCP, was responsible for developing the first ever Pennsylvania Diabetes Action Plan. The Plan is intended to be used as a blueprint by all who share the vision of coordinating efforts to improve diabetes prevention and control in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Downloadable in PDF format at http://www.health.state.pa.us/diabetes, choose Diabetes Publications and Documents.

The Burden of Diabetes in Pennsylvania 2007. This report presents diabetes surveillance data, including measures and trends of estimated diabetes prevalence and mortality for both the general population and disparate groups in the state and at the county level. Estimated prevalence for diabetes risk factors and related health conditions are also highlighted in this report. Downloadable in PDF format at http://www.health.state.pa.us/diabetes*, choose Diabetes Publications and Documents.

Contact information

Diabetes Prevention and Control Program Administrators
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity
Health & Welfare Building, Room 1000
7th and Forster Streets
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120
Telephone 717-787-5876
Fax 717-783-5498
Website: http://www.health.state.pa.us/diabetes*

* Links to non-Federal organizations are provided solely as a service to our users. Links do not constitute an endorsement of any organization by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at this link.

Page last reviewed: July 12, 2007
Page last modified: February 25, 2008
Content Source: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Diabetes Translation

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