About The Diabetes Detection Initiative

About 5.2 million of the total 18.2 million persons with diabetes in the United States have undiagnosed or unrecognized diabetes. Almost all of those with unrecognized diabetes have type 2 diabetes and may not have symptoms or be aware of them even though the disease is present. Because the clinical diagnosis usually occurs about 7-10 years after disease onset, many of the complications of diabetes (eye and kidney disease for example) are often present when the disease is finally found. Additionally, at the time of diagnosis many individuals have risk factors for cardiovascular disease that should be treated.

Many agencies in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have significantly contributed to the planning, implementation and evaluation of the DDI, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Indian Health Service, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Food and Drug Administration, and the National Institutes of Health. The following staff offices of the HHS Office of the Secretary provided guidance, direction and leadership: Office of the Assistant Secretary for Budget, Technology and Finance, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Office of Public Health and Science, Office of Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs, Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, and the Office of the Surgeon General.

The DDI is being piloted in 10 communities in a variety of urban and rural settings: Oakland, Calif.; Wichita/Sedgwick County, Kan.; Springfield/Holyoke, Mass.; Flint, Mich.; East Harlem, N.Y.; Choctaw Nation, Okla.; Orangeburg County, S.C.; Seattle, Wash.; Fayette/Greenbrier Counties, W.Va.; and Wind River Indian Reservation, Wyo.

In the future, it is expected that the DDI will be expanded to other locations across the country.

Last Updated: 06/04/2004

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