Diabetes: Wisconsin Diabetes Advisory Group (DAG)

The Diabetes Advisory Group (DAG), established in mid-1990s, collaborates with Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) Chronic Disease Prevention Program (CDPP). Membership includes individuals representing state-level professional organizations, advocacy groups, health systems, pharmaceutical companies, consumers, community organizations, educational systems, and employers.

DAG’s mission includes:

• Reducing the economic, social, physical, and psychological impact of diabetes in Wisconsin by enhancing the quality of services provided to people who have and are affected by diabetes.
• Educating the public about diabetes by disseminating information through meetings, programs, publications, and other activities.
• Preparing guidance for the public and sharing professional standards for entities involved with diabetes.
• Recommending plans and strategies to coordinate diabetes education and care activities with patients, providers, payers, and other entities involved with diabetes.

Functioning as an extension of CDPP prediabetes and diabetes programs, the DAG plays a key role supporting the implementation of CDC (the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) grant strategies for diabetes prevention and management. Prevention efforts include improving access and feasibility of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP) and Medicare DPP by increasing participation of individuals who may be at high-risk for diabetes, and the establishment of family healthy weight programs to reverse the trend of childhood obesity and related complications. The DAG also works to strengthen self-care practices for individuals with diabetes by improving the access to support and education programs, like Healthy Living with Diabetes or Vivir Saludable con Diabetes, and Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) services.

DAG projects and accomplishments

DAG members contribute regularly to reports and research regarding diabetes treatment and health care policies like the Chronic Disease Quality Improvement Project, the Diabetes Action Plan report to the state legislature, and Wisconsin Diabetes Burden and Surveillance Reports.

Since its founding, the DAG has made meaningful strides in diabetes awareness, support, and policy through the following initiatives:

• Enacted the Diabetes Education and Supplies Mandate (2002)
• Published Children with Diabetes: A Resource Guide for Wisconsin Schools (2002-2010)
• Produced, in partnership with the Wisconsin Lions Foundation, of diabetes care videos–
  • Protect Your Vision: The Dilated Eye Exam (2006) (video)
  • The Links to Chronic Kidney Disease: Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, and Family History (2009) (video)
• Lead successful effort to pass legislation for non-discriminatory treatment of CDL Driver's utilizing insulin (2016)
• Contributed to release of the Wisconsin Diabetes Action Plan (2021, 2023, and 2025)
• Provided feedback and guidance to DHS Division of Medicaid Services (2021 to present) and legislators (2021) concerning continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) policies, resulting in improved CGM coverage

Glucose monitoring survey summary

In 2021, members of the Wisconsin Diabetes Advisory Group conducted a survey on personal continuous glucose monitoring to learn about approaches used with patients and document barriers faced by clinicians. The survey summary outlines these barriers, and what’s being done to improve care.

Read results of the Personal Continuous Glucose Monitoring Survey, P-03161 (PDF)

Members of the Wisconsin Diabetes Advisory Group

Contact us

To learn more about the Wisconsin Diabetes Advisory Group, contact:

Paula McIntyre, RDN CD CDCES
Diabetes Specialist
Paula.Mcintyre@dhs.wisconsin.gov
715-365-2719