Diabetes is a complex, serious, and increasingly common disease.  It is the most frequent cause of blindness among working-age adults; the leading cause of nontraumatic lower extremity amputation and end stage renal disease; and a principal cause of congenital malformations, perinatal mortality, premature mortality, and disability. Persons with diabetes are at increased risk for stroke, ischemic heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, and neuropathy.

Improving diabetes care in Midwest community health centers with the Health Disparities Collaborative

This article evaluates the US Bureau of Primary Health Care's Diabetes Health Disparities Collaborative to reduce health disparities and improve diabetes care in 19 Midwestern health centers. The report concludes that this initiative "has led to significant improvement in diabetes care in one year as assessed through chart review." The specific improvement methodology, interventions, and results are discussed.