Sharing LIGHT and HOPE for People with or at Risk for Diabetes
Advocacy/Policy Development:
Purpose:
To promote funding & research for the control, prevention, and care of diabetes
To increase the number of the general population who recognize diabetes as a serious disease, to advocate, and foster changes in policies and plans which ensure nondiscrimination for people with diabetes
To ensure that all persons with diagnosed diabetes have access to quality self-management programs
Target audience: Policy Makers
Activities include:
Educating legislators and other community leaders regarding Kentucky’s burden of diabetes as well as advocating for improved diabetes control and prevention initiatives that will decrease this burden Education has included information regarding the numbers of Kentuckians affected by or at risk for diabetes, cost of chronic complications and personal care associated with diabetes, and current resources for diabetes care and prevention
An annual diabetes event has been held at the state capitol since 1998. This Diabetes Day at the Capitol has included legislators, diabetes advocates, diabetes educators, and anyone with an interest in diabetes. The event has been informational as well as offering awards to entities and individuals who have made an impact on diabetes control and prevention. Since 2003, attendees interested in diabetes actually visit legislators one-on-one and/or distribute “Diabetes in Kentucky” fact sheets.
Other initiatives of this workgroup have included the development and distribution of an informational sheet that discusses Kentucky insurance coverage of diabetes education and supplies.
This workgroup also combined efforts with other local diabetes coalitions to improve the state’s diabetes mortality data through a change in Kentucky’s death certificate.
In the time, this workgroup has been active; several important pieces of legislation related to diabetes have been passed; including legislation related to insurance coverage for people with diabetes, changes in the Kentucky Death Certificate to clarify when diabetes is the cause of death, legislation improving school nutrition, legislation permitting school personnel to be trained in Glucagon administration, and legislation creating a Diabetes Research Board. The top priority of this workgroup has been to get more funding appropriated to address diabetes, especially for the state’s diabetes public health program. Much of this goal was realized in 2005 and 2006 when the legislature appropriated an additional $2.6 million dollars per year for a variety of diabetes initiatives.
Kentucky Diabetes Network, Inc.
P O Box 4245
Frankfort, Kentucky 40604-4245
Advocacy/Policy Development: