Abbott, ADA Initiative Addresses Diabetes Care Management in POC

Abbott and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) recently launched a joint community health partnership to address diabetes care management among people of color (POC) living with the disease. 

The companies will conduct the initiative with the National Center for Urban Solutions (NCUS) in Columbus, Ohio. 

Overall, the partnership will foster accessibility of diabetes care technology among POC and ensure that over 122 Americans living with diabetes and prediabetes have equal access to health resources in cost, care, cure, community, and cuisine. 

“Diabetes is one of the most pressing health issues of our time, particularly for people of color,” Charles Henderson, chief advocacy officer of the ADA, said in the announcement. 

“Our Health Equity Now platform serves to tear down the healthcare barriers for historically underserved communities. The program will gather real-time data that will help us understand the challenges preventing healthcare equity and uncover solutions to minimize disparities,” Henderson continued. 

Black Americans are 60 percent more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes and much less likely to have their condition well-managed because care can be cost-prohibitive, an Abbott spokesperson explained. 

Specifically, Black individuals across Ohio are twice as likely to die from diabetes than non-Hispanic Whites, explained Joshua Joseph, MD, assistant professor of endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism at The Ohio State University. 

Under the partnership, NCUS will provide diabetes health education and access to Abbott’s FreeStyle Libre flash glucose monitoring technology to 150 black adults living with diabetes in the Columbus community.

The Health Equity Now platform will demonstrate how continuous glucose monitoring can help find holistic solutions to advance health outcomes and improve overall quality of life for these individuals. 

“Engaging the community in prevention programming and health awareness campaigns is key to saving lives while strengthening our communities as a whole,” said John Gregory, president of NCUS. 

“We look forward to the participation of members of our community to help strengthen the health and wellbeing of Columbus residents,” Gregory continued.