MUSC Foundation receives grant to start new diabetes prevention program for women

September 27, 2022

The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Foundation has received a grant from the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation to launch a diabetes prevention program for women. The grant will fund a partnership between the MUSC Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases and the Fetter Health Care Network, a federally qualified health center (FQHC) that provides comprehensive health services for insured, uninsured and underserved residents in Berkeley, Charleston, Colleton and Dorchester counties.

The new program is open to women who receive care at Fetter and are between 18 and 35, with overweight/obesity or prediabetes and/or have a family history of diabetes. Women at risk of developing diabetes will receive group-based virtual and tailored diabetes prevention program intervention and/or one-on-one care via telehealth with MUSC specialists in nutrition, weight management and obesity medicine.

Patients may receive MUSC telehealth services at Charleston-area Fetter locations or from the comfort of their home. Through Fetter, the program is aligned with Lowcountry Street Grocery (LSG), which will give patients access to fresh food through the Grocery Rx program.

“This prevention program will increase access to specialized care for women at high-risk of developing diabetes,” said Marc-Andre Cornier, M.D., director of the Division of Endocrinology. “Ultimately, this program has the potential to impact the quality of health across many generations, especially in communities with little to no access to fresh food or health care. We are grateful to the Fetter Health Care Network for their partnership, and to the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation for making it possible.”

Initially, the program will be available at Charleston-area Fetter locations. Eventually, the goal is to expand the program to other FQHCs throughout South Carolina. The BlueCross® BlueShield® of South Carolina Foundation is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.