The University of Arizona has received a $750,000 federal grant to develop a "virtual diabetes center," according to the Tucson Citizen. The pilot program will be called the Arizona Diabetes Virtual Center of Excellence, and will be run through the Arizona Telemedicine Program. The Tuba City Regional Health Care Corporation, the Mariposa Community Health Center, UA's Mobile Health Clinic, and Indian Health Service will also collaborate on the project.

UA's telemedicine program provides specialized medical services to sites in Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and New Mexico via telecommunications technology.

According to the Citizen, the virtual center will provide services to the medically underserved areas of Tuba City, Nogales, and Amado. It will focus on diabetes prevention, assessment, and management, including the creation of educational programming for a variety of audiences.

Diabetes is disproportionately prevalent among Hispanics and Native Americans. According to the UA news release announcing the new program, the disease has reached epidemic proportions along the U.S.-Mexico border and in Arizona's Indian Reservations.

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For more information:

"$750K for UA diabetes cyberunit," Tucson Citizen, 10/09/2003

"Arizona Telemedicine Program establishes statewide rural Diabetes Center," Green Valley News & Sun, 10/15/2003