title: Strategies to reduce diabetes disparities: an update.
abstract: Racial and ethnic minorities in the US have a higher prevalence, as well as suffer from more complications, lower quality care, and poorer outcomes for diabetes than their counterparts. Given the US health care system is in the midst of drastic transformation, with the passage of health care reform, and efforts in payment reform, and value-based purchasing, there is now support to provide more intensive, team-based care for those conditions that are complex, costly, and highly prevalent. Addressing and improving diabetes disparities, given they are prevalent and costly, will be an important area of focus in the years to come. The latest research demonstrates that community-based efforts, multifactorial approaches, and the deployment of health information technology can be successful in addressing diabetes disparities, and require support, attention, resources, and continued evaluation. Ultimately, these efforts should improve the quality of care for all persons with diabetes, especially those who are most vulnerable.
authors.affiliation: The Disparities Solutions Center, Mongan Institute for Health Policy, Massachusetts General Hospital, 50 Staniford Street, Suite 901, Boston, MA 02114, USA. jbetancourt@partners.org
authors.forename: Joseph R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Betancourt
authors.forename: Jason V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Duong
authors.forename: Matthew R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Bondaryk
mesh_terms: D003153:Community Health Services; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D018166:Health Care Reform; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006302:Health Services Research; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007256:Information Systems; D008297:Male; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology