LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Oct. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- IPRO, the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization for the State of New York, has joined with the National Diabetes Education Program (NDEP), the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) to urge the 17 million people with diabetes to manage their blood pressure and cholesterol, along with their blood glucose (blood sugar) -- an approach that will help prevent heart attack and stroke -- the leading killers of people with diabetes.
Marking November as National Diabetes Month, the groups are joining forces to inform people with diabetes that good diabetes management is more than lowering blood glucose. Managing blood pressure and cholesterol is also crucial. New studies show a strong link between diabetes and heart disease and the vast majority of people with diabetes don’t know about their very high risk of cardiovascular disease.
IPRO and its partners are urging people with diabetes to take care of their hearts by focusing on three numbers: blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol. People with diabetes should ask their doctors or other health care providers three important questions:
* What are my blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol numbers? * What should my target numbers be? * What do I need to do to reach and maintain my target numbers?
Another call to attention is made by Terry Mahotiere, MD, MPH, Medical Officer, who directs the IPRO Quality Improvement Project to address health care disparities among African American Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes in New York City. “Diabetes is not an equal opportunity disease,” she says. “Blacks have higher rates of diabetes and are more likely to get heart disease and stroke. If you are black, live in New York City and are a senior, you are also less likely to receive some important tests to protect your health against the effects of this serious illness. Now is the time to find out if you’re at risk for heart disease and stroke.”
The NDEP has developed patient information materials that are available in English, Spanish and several Asian and Pacific Islander languages. To order a free copy of these products or to learn more about managing diabetes, call 1- 800-438-5383. To find out where IPRO’s Diabetes Self-Management Education workshops will be held, call IPRO at 516-326-7767 x 419 and ask for Ms. Daley, Project Manager, Diabetes Disparities Project.
With 20 years experience in health care quality evaluation, IPRO holds major contracts with state and federal governments to review the cost and quality of services provided to Medicaid recipients, Medicare beneficiaries, and patients enrolled in managed care organizations. Based in Lake Success, New York, IPRO also holds contracts with private-sector clients to improve the quality of privately financed services. For more information, please visit http://www.ipro.org/.
IPRO
CONTACT: Martha Carney, +1-516-326-7767, or Dennis Tartaglia or LaurenSabados, +1-212-481-7000, both of IPRO
Web Site: http://www.ipro.org/