An estimated 30% of hospitalized people are living with diabetes, and more than 200,000 hospitalized people die every year from preventable safety problems.
To help combat these safety problems, The Leapfrog Group is partnering with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) on a program called Recognized Leaders in Caring for People Living with Diabetes that began in 2023.
What is the Recognized Leader in Caring for People Living with Diabetes Program?
Nearly one-third of inpatients in the U.S. are people living with diabetes, yet this is the only program focused on the specific needs of this group of hospitalized patients. These patients often were admitted for conditions other than diabetes, like cardiac or orthopedic surgery or maternity care. But because they also have diabetes, they are at risk of particular complications including amputations and even death if their condition is not managed with rigor. For instance, hospitals need to make sure insulin and other medications are delivered on time and correctly, dietary needs are met with precision, and patients get the education and support they need to manage the complexities of diabetes.
The ADA produced evidence-based guidelines for hospitals to meet the special needs of patients with diabetes, but unfortunately many hospitals don’t know about the guidelines nor recognize the urgency of putting them in place. Our Recognized Leader program shines a light on those hospitals that are demonstrating excellence.
You can see the list of our 2024 Recognized Leaders here. Our goal is to encourage hospitals nationwide by shining a light on their success, and in so doing incentivize hospitals to take the same steps. Free applications are now open for hospitals to apply the be a Recognized Leader in 2025.
How Can You Get Involved?
We need your help to make this program a success and to improve diabetes care everywhere. Here’s how you can be a part of this transformative initiative:
Encourage Local Hospitals to Apply
Please help us by encouraging your local hospitals to apply to be a recognized leader in 2025. If they aren’t ready, they can download the application and begin putting the guidelines into place to compete for the designation in future years. You can use this letter template to encourage your local hospitals and health care providers to participate in the 2025 Recognized Leader in Caring for People Living with Diabetes program.
Empower Patients
Most of us have a family member or friend living with diabetes. Let them know about this program. As a part of the Leapfrog Judie Burrows Education Institute, we have patient resources including videos and downloadable toolkits to help patients navigate a hospital stay and make informed decisions about their health care.
Why it Matters
One in four people admitted to a hospital suffer some form of unintended harm, according to a report by the Office of the Inspector General. Hospitalized people living with diabetes face heightened safety risks including amputation and other complications such as coma and death if mistakes are made in their daily care. Black and Indigenous people, as well as Latinos, are 30% more likely to undergo amputation than non-Hispanic white Americans.
Recognized hospitals provide safe, high-quality care for people living with diabetes, by implementing blood glucose (blood sugar) testing and hypoglycemia protocols, specialized preparation for inpatient surgery, meals and insulin regimen planning, robust discharge planning for high-risk patients with diabetes, among others.
This program is more than just a recognition — it’s a call to action for hospitals across the country to elevate their diabetes care practices and ensure that every patient receives the highest quality of care.