Humana, ADA partner for patient-centric diabetes education

Patients to assist insurer, association in creating program to ensure its relevancy and practicality for those with diabetes.

Humana and the American Diabetes Association (ADA) have partnered to develop a consumer-centric diabetes curriculum and delivery model with the goal of helping slow the progression of diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes can be effectively managed with appropriate education and self-management behaviors. However, research shows that almost two-thirds of adults with type 2 diabetes do not receive any diabetes education. Lack of standardization in diabetes education also often creates conflicting information for those who have the disease.

The new delivery model between Humana and ADA will offer curriculum that is evidence-based, culturally relevant, engaging, and available in multichannel formats, according to Chris Kay, Humana chief innovation officer. Each year, the association publishes its Standards of Medical Care which provide clinicians with the evidence and established targets to attain the goals of diabetes care. A core component of the delivery model will be community-based engagement that extends beyond the workshop in the form of support groups, digital tools and peer-to-peer service to provide accessible support, education, and information for people with diabetes and family members.

Patients with diabetes will also assist in the co-creation of the program to ensure it is relevant and practical at an individual level. It will be for both those who are newly diagnosed and also for those individuals who have long-standing diabetes.

“People with diabetes have significant unmet needs when striving for better self-management of their condition,” Kay tells Medical Economics. “Most diabetes education is broad and one-size-fits-all. This type of education often fails to provide individuals with the knowledge and skills to manage their disease in the context of their lives. While individuals have told us diabetes education is important, they also need help in applying the information to their life. We have set out to design diabetes education content and programs that address the needs of individuals and ensure we remove barriers that keep people from successfully managing their condition.”

The partnership will allow the Louisville, Ky.-based insurer to approach diabetes in an entirely new way, according to Kay. “We anticipate this approach will result in several new ways - ones that are personalized, culturally relevant and available in multichannel formats - to help remove barriers for those with diabetes better so they can better manage their condition and slow the progression of its complications.”

Kay says that Humana strategically partnered with the ADA because of their evidence-based diabetes knowledge, community outreach expertise, and desire to advocate for those with diabetes.

“We recognize the value of working with partners in order to create mutual value and accelerate the goal of improving health,” Kay says.