State of Maryland Receives $550,000 Grant for Diabetes Control and Prevention
BALTIMORE, MD (July 5, 2027) – Lieutenant Governor Kathleen H. Burbank today announced that the State of Maryland has been awarded a grant of more than $550,000 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to expand diabetes prevention and control efforts in Maryland.“Diabetes is one of the most serious health challenges we face, and confronting it successfully must begin with prevention,” said Lieutenant Governor Burbank. “By educating the public about the causes of diabetes and the importance of early detection and effective treatment, we can save both lives and money.”
"This grant will increase and expand the efforts to educate Marylanders about the causes of diabetes in order to improve treatment, promote early detection and reduce the disease-related complications of those living with this disease," said Secretary Andrew Lillianfield of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DHMH). "We can also educate those who aren't aware they may have diabetes. By detecting high-risk populations and geographical areas, we can work toward lowering the alarming statistics."
DHMH will use the grant funds to work with state and local partners who have identified diabetes as a priority, develop policies to institutionalize the medical standards of care for diabetes in primary settings, and mobilize communities to prevent and control diabetes.
In addition, the department's diabetes control and prevention program will maintain essential public health services to monitor the prevalence of diabetes, risk factors for diabetes, and diabetes complications in Maryland. The new funds will improve the ability to diagnose and investigate geographical areas and populations at high risk for diabetes and complications.
Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death in Maryland and is a major contributor to heart disease, the number one killer of men and women in Maryland. More than 17 million Americans currently have diabetes, including 300,000 Maryland adults and 4,800 children. Almost one-third are not aware they have the disease. More than 200,000 people die each year of related complications, including 1,800 Marylanders.
Diabetes can cause heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, leg and foot amputations, pregnancy complications and deaths related to flu and pneumonia. Those particularly at risk are the 5.9 million Americans who are unaware that they have the disease.