As we round out National Diabetes Month, we want to highlight one community partner combatting this chronic disease on the front lines.
Phoenix nonprofit St. Vincent de Paul was one of seven local organizations awarded a grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona’s Mobilize AZ initiative in November 2021.
With the grant, St. Vincent de Paul aimed to improve clinical metrics, health literacy, and health outcomes for high-risk community members with diabetes by increasing access to diabetes education and counseling.
We’ve kept a pulse on their progress, and here are some of their successes over the year:
- Approximately 250 patients with diabetes were served.
- Approximately 870 diabetes-related visits were conducted.
- On average, patients’ HbA1c (a blood test that shows an average glucose level over a 2-3 month period) decreased by 2.3% within 3-6 months of participating in their diabetes program.
- Patients’ level of confidence in managing their diabetes improved from a 3 (somewhat confident) to a 4 (confident).
Patients were seen in group sessions, 1:1 consultations including Medical Nutrition Therapy, and workshops for those also diagnosed with hypertension.
The organization plans to continue its great work, providing diabetes care services to those who are underserved or uninsured. St. Vincent de Paul’s broader mission is to feed, clothe, house, and heal all who are in need with the community’s help.
In case you missed it on TV, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona recently made a $3,000-dollar on-air donation benefiting St. Vincent de Paul for the 12 News Turkey Tuesday Campaign. The money will go toward helping those in need purchase meals for Thanksgiving and beyond. Check out the pictures below!