ABBOTT PARK, Ill. and ARLINGTON,
Va., Nov. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/
-- Abbott (NYSE: ABT) and the American Diabetes
Association® (ADA) announced today the launch of their
first joint community health partnership. The community initiative,
which is the first program under the ADA's Health Equity Now™
platform1, will launch in Columbus, Ohio, and be conducted in
partnership with the National Center for Urban Solutions (NCUS), a
Columbus-based organization
focused on providing solutions in workforce development, education
and wellness. The program seeks to better understand and address
healthcare disparities for people of color living with diabetes,
while fostering accessibility of diabetes care technology within
the community.
As part of the program, NCUS will provide up to 150
Black adults living with diabetes in the Columbus community with health education and
access to Abbott's FreeStyle® Libre flash glucose
monitoring technology. By removing existing barriers to tools and
technology, this program aims to demonstrate how continuous glucose
monitoring can help improve diabetes management and quality of life
for Black people living with diabetes in the Columbus community.
Black Americans are 60% more likely to be diagnosed with
diabetes2 and much less likely to have their condition
well managed largely because care can be cost prohibitive. Further,
Black Americans are at the most pronounced disadvantage when it
comes to access to continuous glucose monitoring3. This
is one of the reasons why this project was established — to create
awareness of healthcare disparities and find holistic solutions to
drive improved health outcomes.
"Diabetes is one of the most pressing health issues of our time,
particularly for people of color," said Charles Henderson, chief advocacy officer of the
American Diabetes Association. "Our Health Equity Now platform
serves to tear down the healthcare barriers for historically
underserved communities. The program in Columbus will gather real-time data that will
help us understand the challenges preventing healthcare equity and
uncover solutions to minimize disparities."
ADA's Health Equity Now platform aims to ensure that the more
than 122 million Americans living with diabetes and
prediabetes2, along with millions more at risk for
diabetes, have equal access to health resources in cost, care,
cure, community and cuisine that can create a future without unjust
health disparities.
"At Abbott, we believe that the best health care product is the
one that helps the most people," said Badia Boudaiffa, divisional
vice president of U.S. commercial operations for Abbott's diabetes
business. "That's why this partnership is so important — it will
improve health outcomes by building access to affordable,
integrated diabetes solutions. There is a strong connection between
the health of a community and its overall wellbeing."
Abbott's FreeStyle Libre technology was built with access and
affordability in mind to make it broadly available to all people
with diabetes. This aligns to Abbott's 2030 Sustainability Plan,
which has a clear focus on innovating for access and affordability
with the goal of improving the lives of one in every three people
on the planet every year by 2030.
"Engaging the community in prevention programing and health
awareness campaigns is key to saving lives while strengthening our
communities as a whole," said John
Gregory, president of NCUS. "We look forward to the
participation of members of our community to help strengthen the
health and wellbeing of Columbus
residents."
"Black individuals across Ohio
are twice as likely to die from diabetes compared to non-Hispanic
whites," said Dr. Joshua Joseph,
M.D., assistant professor of endocrinology, diabetes and
metabolism, The Ohio State University.
"New technologies such as continuous glucose monitors make diabetes
management easier and lead to better control of glucose and may
close the disparities in diabetes mortality. Unfortunately, Black
populations have lower access and usage of such devices. Thus,
approaches like the ADA's Health Equity Now, getting continuous
glucose monitors to those who need them most, are critical to
advancing diabetes equity."
For information about participating in the community program,
contact NCUS at ugotthis@ncusolutions.com.
About the American Diabetes Association:
The American
Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation's leading voluntary health
organization fighting to bend the curve on the diabetes epidemic
and help people living with diabetes thrive. For 80 years the ADA
has been driving discovery and research to treat, manage and
prevent diabetes, while working relentlessly for a cure. We help
people with diabetes thrive by fighting for their rights and
developing programs, advocacy and education designed to improve
their quality of life. Diabetes has brought us together. What we do
next will make us Connected for Life. To learn more or to get
involved, visit us at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES
(1-800-342-2383). Join the fight with us on Facebook (American
Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn) and Instagram
(@AmDiabetesAssn).
About Abbott:
Abbott is a global healthcare leader
that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Our
portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of
healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics,
medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic medicines. Our
109,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries.
Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on LinkedIn at
www.linkedin.com/company/abbott-/, on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews.
Indications and Important Safety Information
FreeStyle Libre 2 system: Failure to use FreeStyle Libre
2 system as instructed in labeling may result in missing a severe
low or high glucose event and/or making a treatment decision,
resulting in injury. If glucose alarms and readings do not match
symptoms or expectations, use a fingerstick value from a blood
glucose meter for treatment decisions. Seek medical attention when
appropriate or contact Abbott at 855-632-8658 or
https://www.freestyle.abbott/us-en/safety-information.html.
1 The American Diabetes Association's Health
Equity Now platform is sponsored by Abbott. All trademarks are the
property of their respective owners.
2 https://www.diabetes.org/healthequitynow
3
https://www.diabetes.org/sites/default/files/2021-10/ADA%20CGM%20Utilization%20White%20Paper.pdf
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SOURCE Abbott