Innovative Diabetes Program in McLean County Posts Three-Year Success

November 10, 2010

Physicians Expand Initiative to Include Children's Diabetes Prevention

BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL, Ill. – Diabetes Checks & Balances, a unique program launched locally, helped decrease emergency room visits and hospital admissions among those who have been with the program since it began in 2007. Because of the success of the program, area doctors have expanded the program to include a childhood diabetes prevention outreach.

The first program of its kind in Illinois, Diabetes Checks & Balances encourages people with diabetes to contact their physicians and arrange for four tests, including blood glucose, cholesterol, an eye exam and screening for kidney disease.  Approximately 500 area residents met the criteria for participation and have remained in the program for three years.

  • Members with their diabetes uncontrolled (blood glucose level greater than or equal to 8.5 percent) each year were almost twice as likely to go the ER as members with glucose controlled (less than 8.5 percent) for each of the years.
  • The inpatient admission rate was approximately two-thirds lower for participants with their diabetes controlled in the first two years of the program compared to those controlled for zero years.

"The results are extremely impressive," says Steve Denault, senior vice president of Human Resources and Communications at COUNTRY® Financial and chair of the community-wide group that launched the program. "We're thrilled to know our friends and co-workers in this community are healthier because of this program. We continue to encourage people with type 2 diabetes to see their doctors because we know this program makes a difference."

A community-wide program

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) collaborated with McLean County employers and health care providers on the Diabetes Checks & Balances program, including COUNTRY® Financial, Mitsubishi Motors North America, Inc., State Farm Insurance®, and numerous other local employers to target this population and move them toward care.

As part of the program, BCBSIL identified its local members with diabetes and sent them information about the program. Through the program, local physicians actively promoted yearly tests to diabetics. In addition, BCBSIL hosted diabetes screenings in the workplace and elsewhere throughout the area.  

"Blue Cross' goal continues to be joining together local employers with providers and helping our members with diabetes stay healthy," says Scott Sarran, MD, BCBSIL's chief medical officer. "Patients are cared for by their physicians, who coordinate all aspects of their diabetes care using the best available evidence and appropriate technology to enhance their health."

The American Diabetes Association estimates more than 9,500 (7 percent) of the McLean County population has diabetes and more than 120 people in the county die each year from diabetes or diabetes-related complications.  

Results Highlights

Of the approximate 500 who participated since 2007:

  1. 83 percent had a blood glucose test, an increase of 18 percent compared to 2006. The number of people with glucose levels controlled (glucose below 8.5 percent) improved 16 percent.
  2. 79 percent were screened for low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, up 17 percent over 2006. The rate of LDL control (LDL cholesterol below 100 mg/dL) increased from 61 percent to 65 percent.
  3. Eye exams increased by 22 percent since the program began in 2007.
  4. An additional 23 percent received medical attention for kidney disease.

"Taking these tests and knowing the results each year are significant steps toward better diabetes management. We are encouraged that, with proper management, people with diabetes may prevent or delay the onset of complications associated with the disease, which range from heart and blood vessel disease, blindness and kidney failure to nerve damage, foot ulcers and urological problems," says Dr. James Vales, an Advocate Medical Group physician in Normal.

Focus on children

Diabetes Checks & Balances will now work with pediatricians and family physicians to roll out a diabetes prevention program to children.

Doctors will measure the child's BMI (body mass index) and discuss the percentage with the parent. They will offer nutritional counseling and also take an assessment of the child's physical activity.

"With these tools, and the additional discussions between parents and physicians, we hope to increase the amount of children screened for diabetes," says Dr. Sarran. "I hope our results for the children's diabetes prevention program measure up to the success we've seen in the adult population."

 

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois

With more than 7 million members, BCBSIL, a division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, is the largest health insurance company in Illinois. Started in 1936, BCBSIL is committed to promoting the health and wellness of its members and its communities through accessible, cost-effective, quality health care. BCBSIL is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

 

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