The goal of the NH Diabetes Education Program (NHDEP) is to decrease the number of new cases of diabetes in the state, and to reduce the complications and deaths associated with this disease.  It works to achieve this goal primarily by working with health care providers and other public health partners as described below.

Diabetes is currently the 7th leading cause of death in NH.  Approximately 7.2% of the population from 18-64 years of age report having been diagnosed with diabetes (NH Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey 2006).

Diabetes increases the risk of:

• Heart disease
• Hospitalizations
• Lower extremity amputations
• Kidney disease
• Vision loss
• Death   

The work of the NHDEP includes:

Provider Education

• "Lunch & Learn" professional development sessions, for physicians, nurses and diabetes care educators at primary care locations.
• An annual statewide conference, bringing nationally-recognized speakers to over 200 New England health care professionals.

Community Health Education

• Programs and materials to increase awareness of diabetes risk factors and ways to prevent diabetes and its complications.

Clinical Quality Improvement through Case Management

• Publishing the New Hampshire Guidelines for Primary Care, a summary of nationally recognized best practices for diabetes care
• Promoting Best Clinical Practices at a network of primary care sites.  Outcomes since 2002 include: 
  
  • Doubling the percentage of patients with recorded HgbA1C test during the past year;
  • Doubling the rate of retinal eye exams;
  • Improving the rate of in-office foot checks and clinical assessments for neurovascular complications;
  • Doubling the % of patients receiving Diabetes Education services and setting self-management goals;
  • Increasing nearly three-fold the rate of patients on aspirin therapy to prevent vascular complications.

Monitoring and reporting on:

• Trends in the incidence and prevalence of diabetes, its risk factors and complications
• Changes in the percentages of patients with diabetes who receive care in accordance with the recommended national guidelines for: hemoglobin A1C testing, lipid profile, dilated eye exam, kidney disease monitoring, foot examination, flu and pneumococcal vaccine

New Directions:

• A state plan, the New Hampshire Action Plan for Diabetes, has been developed with input from a wide range of New Hampshire citizens and professionals.  This plan sets objectives in three priority areas: 
  
  • Public Education
  • Workforce Development and
  • Access to Care
        
    
• Expanding the membership of the former Diabetes Advisory Group, a statewide NH Diabetes Coalition of these partners has convened three Work Groups to pursue the state plan objectives.