Diabetes has reached epidemic proportions in New York City, and HHC facilities are battling the disease on many fronts. Through free screenings, and increased attention to early diabetes detection in clinical visits, HHC can now treat patients earlier in the disease cycle. That means helping a community of more than 50,000 New Yorkers get healthy.

One effective tool in curbing diabetes is the electronic diabetes registry, which was piloted at Queens and Elmhurst Hospital Centers. The registry is a web-based tool that uses information from HHC's advanced electronic medical records data, provides a real-time "snapshot" of ongoing patient care—blood sugar levels, medications prescribed, even data about necessary eye tests and foot exams. The information enables doctors to give more targeted, evidence-based treatment and makes possible better-controlled blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. This works to reduce the risk of such severe complications as heart trouble, blindness and kidney failure.

Several HHC facilities have specially designed programs for treating diabetics. At Lincoln, certified diabetes educators can be consulted around the clock; while at Renaissance Healthcare Network Diagnostic and Treatment Center, the Diabetic Learning and Support program focuses on peer support and medical instruction for diabetic patients. Kings County Hospital recently opened a specially designed Diabetes Center and a program which includes education about good nutrition – it even has a demonstration kitchen so patients can learn how to cook the foods that will bring them the best health.

Click here for a list of HHC acute care hospitals, all of which offer patients treatment for diabetes.