Diabetes Management and Prevention
Fast Facts about Diabetes in Louisiana
Well-Ahead Louisiana empowers leaders in key organizations across the state to take an active role in the fight against diabetes in our communities. By making healthy living easy and accessible to residents at risk for or living with type 2 diabetes, we can move Louisiana’s health forward.
Family, food and fun makes life in Louisiana hard to beat. And our lifestyle has a big impact on our overall health. Health risk behaviors like poor diet, physical inactivity and tobacco use, as well as limited access to healthcare, cause our state to lead the nation in statistics for chronic diseases like diabetes.
More than
1 in 3
U.S. residents were estimated to have prediabetes3
15% of Louisiana residents have diabetes,1 which can fill the Superdome
10X
Each year in Louisiana, diagnosed diabetes cost an estimated
$6.9 billion2
21%
of Black Louisiana residents have diabetes compared to 14% of white Louisiana residents1
Well-Ahead proudly recognizes March 24 as Diabetes Alert Day
Reducing the Burden of Diabetes in Louisiana
If we want to have the greatest health impact possible in our communities, we must work together. Everyone has a role to play in reducing the burden of diabetes in our state. We work to ensure our residents have access to quality health services for diabetes management and prevention by training and educating healthcare professionals on best practices and building connections between the community and clinical sector. Organization leaders in our communities can also build environments that encourage healthy habits that help prevent and manage diabetes where our residents live, work, learn, play and pray.
By focusing on connecting community organizations to evidence-based resources, we can empower leaders to implement healthy policy, systems and environmental changes and ensure access to quality health services.
Diabetes Education and Training
Through its Provider Education Network, as well as the Louisiana Diabetes Educator Network (LaDEN) and LaDEN Prevents, Well-Ahead provides a variety of education and training opportunities to healthcare providers, evidence-based program coordinators, lifestyle coaches, certified diabetes educators and community health workers.
Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support
Diabetes self-management education and support is an evidence-based service that empowers residents living with diabetes with skills to stay healthy. Well-Ahead improves access to and participation in diabetes self-management education and support services across the state.
Louisiana Chronic Disease Collective
The Louisiana Chronic Disease Collective is a diverse group of national, state, and local stakeholders created to determine a coordinated strategic approach to improve health outcomes and reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity in Louisiana.
Medication Therapy Management
Including pharmacists as members of care teams can significantly improve the treatment of diabetes. Well-Ahead engages pharmacists to provide medication therapy management services in conjunction with diabetes self-management education and support services.
National Diabetes Prevention Program
The National Diabetes Prevention Program is an evidence-based CDC-recognized lifestyle change program offered in organizations across the nation that can cut a participant’s risk for developing diabetes in half. Well-Ahead increases enrollment in existing Louisiana programs, coordinates partnerships between public and private organizations to start-up new programs and works to include the program as a covered health benefit among private and public insurers.
Population Health Cohort
Through the Population Health Cohort, Well-Ahead provides coaching to care teams on implementing evidence-based strategies for diabetes prevention and management. Plus, participating clinics get exclusive access to a customized platform for data management.
Screening, Testing and Referral
Protocols for early detection of type 2 diabetes and referral to evidence-based programs should be a standard of care in all clinical settings. Well-Ahead supports care teams in implementing systems to identify residents with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes and refer them to evidence-based programs, including establishing bi-directional e-referral systems.
WellSpot Designation
By becoming a WellSpot, organizations across the state are creating healthy spaces and places where our residents can build habits to help prevent and manage chronic conditions, like diabetes.
Start a Digital Marketing Campaign for Your NDPP
National Diabetes Prevention Programs (National DPP) make a positive impact in Louisiana communities with healthy, evidence-based diabetes prevention methods. Your program has the power to raise community awareness of prediabetes and significantly reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes, learn more about how a digital marketing campaign can help!
Citations
1 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 2024.
2 American Diabetes Association, 2022.
3 Data sources: National Center for Health Statistics; 2017–2020 National Health Interview Survey.
Success Stories
Local leaders dedicated to helping prevent and manage diabetes in our communities are moving Louisiana’s health forward.
Diabetes Program Offers Inspiration, Better Results for Patients and Providers
Through a virtual curriculum and community support, the National Diabetes Prevention Program is improving health and preventing diabetes for at-risk Louisiana residents.
Southwest Louisiana Residents Live in Control of Diabetes with Help from Innovative Program
In southwest Louisiana, where diabetes is prevalent, residents have a vital support system to manage their diabetes thanks to the SWLA Center for Health Services’ Live in Control Program.
Addressing Health Disparities in Louisiana
Chronic Disease Prevalence for Louisiana Minorities Louisiana is home to a melting pot of people, making up the rich culture of our state. Unfortunately, not all of our residents are afforded the same access to care.