News Releases

PHOENIX, Ariz. -- Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano has declared November as Diabetes Awareness Month and is strongly urging all Arizonans to consult with their physicians and health care providers about how to prevent, identify, and control diabetes. The number of people with diabetes in the United States rose by nearly 50 percent during the past decade.

Also in response to this emerging epidemic, the Arizona Diabetes Initiative (AzDIn) continues to develop and support a statewide coalition of partners to take collective action to improve the care for people with diabetes.

Organized by Health Services Advisory Group (HSAG), AzDIn consists of over 121 organizations throughout Arizona, including the Arizona Department of Health Services, the American Diabetes Association, managed care organizations, hospitals, and businesses. The goal of this initiative is twofold: for members to share best practices in diabetes management and to work toward developing strategies to be implemented throughout the state. "The Arizona Diabetes Initiative is all about providers working together to help all Arizonans with diabetes and their families gain access to the new technologies, medications, and self-management strategies. Collaboration is the key to better diabetes care," notes Anita Murcko, MD, FACP, Chief Medical Officer of HSAG.

According to the Diabetes and Associated Complications in Arizona 1998 Status Report, "Programs specific to high risk populations are needed to reduce the increasing incidence [of diabetes] among these groups. Program activities must occur at many levels. Successful management of diabetes will require changes in physician practices, modifications of health care delivery systems, new societal attitudes toward physical activity and nutrition, and the empowerment of patients who must take charge of their disease."

• Diabetes is currently the sixth leading cause of death in Arizona.
• Adults with diabetes are 2-4 times more likely to develop heart disease or suffer a stroke than those without diabetes.
• Diabetes is the leading cause of non-traumatic lower limb amputations and blindness in persons ages 20-74.
• More than one-third of people with diabetes do not know they have the disease.
• Persons under the age of 40-including children-are the fastest growing group diagnosed with diabetes.

As a quality improvement organization, HSAG's primary focus is on improving health care processes and outcomes for patients through collaboration-one of the most effective means of changing medical practice patterns and outcomes. For over two decades, HSAG has provided innovative leadership in health care quality for federal, state, and private clients.

For more information about AzDIn, visit http://www.azdin.com.

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