Type 2 Diabetes Case Study

Evidence-Based Practice
Nationally, Type II Diabetes has increased to epidemic proportions. In 2010, it was the seventh leading cause of death in the United States. According to the National Diabetes Statistics Report of 2014, “29.1 million people or 9.3% of the US population have diabetes, with 8.1 million of them being undiagnosed.”1 In addition, the comorbidity conditions associated with diabetes include: high blood pressure, high LDL cholesterol, heart disease/stroke, blindness/eye problems, kidney disease, amputations and other related problems such as: hearing loss, nerve disease, and pregnancy complications. The national financial burden of this disease is impressive. In 2012, the CDCs’ estimated costs of diabetes in the United States were broken down as follows: Direct – medical costs of $176 billion; and Indirect costs: (work

The prevalence and financial burden of diabetes is apparent on a State and local level as well. In 2000, the Wyoming Department of Health commissioned a project to assess the annual cost of diabetes. State-wide the direct costs (medical care) of diabetes were more than $31 million annually and the indirect costs (premature mortality and lost productivity) totaled more than $68 million. With the staggering costs, on the national, state and local level there is a clear benefit to improve diabetes care including a significant costs saving to communities and more importantly an increase in the quality and length of life for people with diabetes. In the past ten years, the number of adult diabetics in Wyoming has almost doubled. In response to this increase, the Wyoming Department of Health created the Diabetes State Strategic Plan 2010-2015. Their official mission statement is to: “Improve the quality of life for those at risk or affected by diabetes in Wyoming.” The five year