LOUISVILLE, Ky. – CenterWell Home Health has received funding from the Know Diabetes by Heart initiative to focus on local education and outreach efforts for residents of Huntsville and Athens, Ala., living with Type 2 diabetes as well as their caregivers.

Know Diabetes by Heart is a joint initiative from the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association which seeks to reduce cardiovascular events and deaths among people living with Type 2 diabetes. Through this grant, CenterWell Home Health will receive funding, access to resources and educational materials, and 300 care kits for individuals living with Type 2 diabetes.

Know Diabetes by Heart is made possible with support from founding sponsor Novo Nordisk and national sponsor Bayer. Huntsville and Athens are among only three communities in the country – the other one is The Villages of Florida – to be selected for this program through CenterWell.

“We continue to see diabetes at alarmingly high rates in Huntsville and Athens,” said Kyle G. Lavergne, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, vice president of clinical programs for CenterWell Home Health. “We want to do all we can to reach people in these communities, educating them about the health risks diabetes poses and sharing steps they can take to reduce the risks.”

A 2022 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said more than 37 million Americans have diabetes, and 96 million more have prediabetes. The CDC estimates the annual cost of diabetes at $327 billion in medical expenses and lost work and wages for people with diagnosed diabetes. Diabetes can lead to serious heart problems, blindness, loss of limbs, kidney disease and other complications. The CDC says the risk of early death for adults with diabetes is 60% higher than for adults without diabetes.

CenterWell Home Health representatives will visit assisted-living facilities in the area, offering residents a diabetes pre-test and a presentation outlining steps to lower the risks of diabetes. Thanks to the grant, residents who participate will receive a care kit that includes an ice chest, a dinner plate with cover, diabetes information, a medication planner and a resistance band for light exercise. Fresh fruit will also be provided.

CenterWell Home Health offers a separate self-management and education program to its patients with diabetes.

With more than 350 branches in 38 states, CenterWell Home Health is one of the largest home health care providers in the country, offering clinical care to help patients regain their confident, independent selves. Whether managing a chronic condition or recovering from illness, injury, surgery or hospitalization, CenterWell’s nurses and therapists work together with patients, their families and their health care providers to create a personalized care plan.