2019 Direct Services Grant Program NOFA 2019 Direct Services NOFA | Page 10

DIABETES
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects the pancreas’ ability to produce insulin, which regulates the
levels of glucose in the blood. 15 When the amount of blood glucose levels in the body are high, it can
cause damage to other parts of the body, including the eyes, heart, blood vessels, kidneys and
nerves. Uncontrolled blood glucose levels can lead to complications such as blindness, kidney
disease, slow healing wounds, and even death. There is no cure for diabetes, but it can be effectively
managed with adherence to prescribed medications and proper monitoring of blood glucose levels,
blood pressure, cholesterol, diet, physical activity, and quitting smoking. Diabetes is a serious public
health issue in both the United States and in Georgia. In the U.S., 30.3 million people, or 9.4% of the
population, have diabetes and 1 in 4 do not know they are diabetic. 16 In 2014, a total of 7.2 million
hospital discharges and 14.2 million emergency room visits were reported with diabetes as any listed
diagnosis among U.S. adults 18 years and older. In 2012, the total direct and indirect estimated costs
of diagnosed diabetes in the U.S. was estimated at $245 billion.
In Georgia, approximately 1.1 million people, or 13.9% of the adult population, have diabetes. 17 Of
these, an estimated 241,000 have the disease but are not aware of it. The cost burden of diabetes is
significant. Medical expenses for diabetics are approximately 2.3 times higher than those who do not
have diabetes. In 2017, the total direct medical expenses for diagnosed diabetes in Georgia was
estimated at $10.8 billion, including indirect costs lost from lost productivity due to diabetes. 13 In
Georgia, the prevalence of diabetes is higher among Black, non-Hispanics (13.7%), compared to
White (9.9%) and Hispanic (7.2%) individuals. 15 Seniors aged 65 years and older were also more likely
to be diagnosed with diabetes (23.0%) compared to other age ranges. Diabetes prevalence was also
higher among adults with a household income of less than $15,000 (15.7%) and adults with less than
a high school education (14.3%). 15
There are different types of diabetes, including: 1) Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes;
2) Type 2 diabetes, which is the most common form of diabetes affecting 90-95% of the diabetic
population; 3) Gestational diabetes, a type of diabetes most commonly found among pregnant
women; and 4) Prediabetes, a condition in which the body’s glucose levels are high, but have not yet
reached the level of a diabetes diagnosis. 15 Applicants will be allowed to submit applications
addressing any of the different types of diabetes that target populations across the lifespan from
children to senior adults. Proposed program that address diabetes should utilize effective
interventions with demonstrated impact. For example, the Guide to Community Preventive Services
(The Community Guide) provides a list of evidence-based strategies to address diabetes, including
team-based care for patients with Type 2 diabetes, combined diet and physical activity promotion
programs to prevent Type 2 diabetes among people at increased risk, and lifestyle interventions to
reduce the risk for gestational diabetes. 18
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15
2015 Georgia Diabetes Report and Action Plan. Georgia Department of Public Health
National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2017. Estimates of Diabetes and Its Burden in the United States. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. Retrieved June 6, 2019 from https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pdfs/data/statistics/national-diabetes-statistics-report.pdf.
17
American Diabetes Association. The Burden of Diabetes in Georgia Fact Sheet. Retrieved on June 12, 2019 from http://
www.diabetes.org/assets/pdfs/advocacy/state-fact-sheets/georgia-state-fact-sheet.pdf
18
The Community Guide. Retrieved on June 13, 2019 from https://www.thecommunityguide.org/topic/diabetes .
16
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Healthcare Georgia Foundation
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2019 Direct Services Grant Program NOFA
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Issued June 25, 2019