By Kelley Weiss
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-581463.mp3
Kansas City, MO – The University of Kansas Medical Center is starting a new regional Diabetes Institute, emphasizing research, prevention and access to treatment. KCUR's Kelley Weiss reports.
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KU Medical Center will work with the Kansas Health Department to run a new Diabetes Institute to address the growing number of diabetic patients in the region. Dr. David Robbins, Diabetes Institute director, says Kansas is struggling to treat the more than 150,000 people living with the chronic illness.
David Robbins: "We are really trying to grapple with the problem that there are very, very few practicing specialists in diabetes and that the majority of these people are not getting the quality of care and the frequency of care that they need."
Robbins says the Institute will work with other hospitals and scientists to advance diabetes research. Another focus will be on using cell phones to bring care to underserved rural areas. Robbins says KU is applying for National Institutes of Health grant to fund a new $20 million building and hire more researchers.
Funding for health care coverage on KCUR has been provided by the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City.
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