ARLINGTON, VA and DALLAS, December 11, 2023 — The American Diabetes Association® and the American Heart Association® have awarded grants to 10 community organizations to help people living with Type 2 diabetes lower their risk for cardiovascular diseases like heart attack, heart failure and stroke. 

The community grants are part of the leading health non-profits’ joint Know Diabetes by Heart initiative which seeks to reduce cardiovascular events and deaths among people living with Type 2 diabetes. The grants will help organizations in California, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina and Puerto Rico deliver diabetes and cardiovascular disease education materials and resources in English and in Spanish. Outreach efforts will focus on engaging Black and Latino populations that experience higher rates of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke compared to non-Hispanic white populations.

Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death and a major cause of disability for all people living with Type 2 diabetes, yet only about half age 45 or older understand their increased risk for developing heart disease or have discussed it with their doctor.[1] 

“People with diabetes are twice as likely to have heart disease. It’s important, especially for people living with diabetes, to stay on top of heart health. Creating a network of support for exercise, diet and diabetes management can help people be heart healthy and avoid complications,” said Robert Gabbay, MD, PhD, FACP, chief scientific and medical officer at the American Diabetes Association.

“Heart disease should be on the minds of people living with Type 2 diabetes. The good news is that the lifestyle changes you make to keep your heart healthy can also help you manage diabetes and prevent heart disease,” said Eduardo Sanchez, MD, MPH, FAHA, the American Heart Association’s chief medical officer for prevention. “Through these education and outreach efforts, we can help people live longer, healthier lives.”

KDBH community grants totaling $167,000 were awarded to:

CenterWell Home Health

Atlanta, Georgia

Clemson University

Clemson, South Carolina

Diabetes Coalition of Palm Beach County

Riviera Beach, Florida

Family Health Centers of San Diego

San Diego, California

Lifeline Health Essentials, LLC

Harvey, Louisiana

Lucky Shoals Community Association

Tucker, Georgia

MedStar Harbor Hospital

Baltimore, Maryland

PEACE, Inc.

Syracuse, New York

Puerto Rico Diabetes Association

San Juan, Puerto Rico

United Health Centers

Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Additional Resources:

Know Diabetes by Heart is made possible with support from founding sponsor Novo Nordisk and national sponsor Bayer. For more information, visit KnowDiabetesbyHeart.org.  

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About the American Heart Association

The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.orgFacebookX, or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.   

About the American Diabetes Association

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization fighting to bend the curve on the diabetes epidemic and help people living with diabetes thrive. For 83 years, the ADA has driven discovery and research to treat, manage, and prevent diabetes while working relentlessly for a cure. Through advocacy, program development, and education we aim to improve the quality of life for the over 133 million Americans living with diabetes or prediabetes. Diabetes has brought us together. What we do next will make us Connected for Life. To learn more or to get involved, visit us at diabetes.org or call 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383). Join the fight with us on Facebook (American Diabetes Association), Spanish Facebook (Asociación Americana de la Diabetes), LinkedIn (American Diabetes Association), Twitter (@AmDiabetesAssn), and Instagram (@AmDiabetesAssn). 

For Media Inquiries: 214-706-1173

Julia Kersey: 773-343-2169julia.kersey@heart.org


[1] American Heart Association and American Diabetes Association. 2018. People with T2D Baseline Survey. Online survey; USA. Conducted by The Harris Poll in September 2018.