Help Raise Awareness About Diabetes During National Diabetes Awareness Month

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) is recognizing National Diabetes Awareness Month in November. There are three main types of diabetes – type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant). Type 2 diabetes is the most prevalent form of diabetes with about 90-95% of the estimated 34 million people living with diabetes having type 2 diabetes. There are also an additional 88 million Americans with prediabetes.

As incidences of new diabetes cases have become more prevalent among non-Hispanic Blacks coupled with existing cases being highest among American Indian and Alaska Native people, it is important to highlight and address health disparities in diabetes impacting minority populations. Factors including lack of access to healthcare, quality of care received, and socioeconomic status have disproportionately affected racial and ethnic minority populations in both the prevalence of this disease and health outcomes.

Recognizing National Diabetes Month is part of our ongoing strategy to share resources and initiatives that aim to improve access to healthcare services and improve health equity. Below are several resources that healthcare professionals can use to help their patients manage their diabetes.

Resources

CMS has a “Insulin Savings” filter on Medicare Plan Finder to display plans that will offer the capped out-of-pocket costs for insulin. Click here to learn more.