New UH Diabetes Center at MidTown Provides Crucial Care to Neighborhood in Need

CLEVELAND – A new facility from the University Hospitals Diabetes & Metabolic Care Center now located in Cleveland’s MidTown neighborhood brings health resources close to home for people living with diabetes and obesity. The UH Diabetes Center at MidTown aims to enhance lives and improve health outcomes through expert and comprehensive care provided by dedicated staff. The center is located within the Cleveland Foundation’s new MidTown Collaboration Center.

Diabetes is a growing national epidemic and the 7th leading cause of death in the United States. In Cuyahoga County, 13 percent of the population have been diagnosed with diabetes and an additional 33 percent have pre-diabetes. Diabetes, whether Type 1 or 2, is associated with serious health complications including leg amputation, kidney disease, delayed wound healing, depression, fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular disease.

Despite a high prevalence of disease in low-income communities, programs for the treatment of diabetes are usually found in areas where the population is highly educated and privately insured. Recognizing the need for service availability in low-income communities, the American Diabetes Association recommends addressing this disparity by offering services directly in socioeconomic disadvantaged regions with the highest diabetes prevalence.

“This center is the culmination of our mission and long-standing commitment to help our community,” said Betul Hatipoglu, MD, endocrinologist; Medical Director of the UH Diabetes & Metabolic Care Center; and Mary B. Lee Chair in Adult Endocrinology. “Barriers to access have a huge impact on people’s health. In this location, many patients will be within walking distance of their appointments from their homes in the neighborhood. The location of this center is key to helping people live healthier lives.”

The overarching goals of the UH Diabetes Center at MidTown are to improve access to care, provide a comprehensive approach to care, including nutrition and exercise consultation, enhance quality of life and health outcomes, and measure outcomes and compile data to assess impact.

Staff includes an endocrinologist, a full-time nurse practitioner dedicated to the center, a diabetes care and education specialist, a nutritionist, a medical assistant, as well as reception staff.

The center will serve any patient diagnosed with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes over the age of 18, regardless of ability to pay.

The physical space inside the Cleveland Foundation’s new MidTown Collaboration Center includes 1,700 square feet, four private visiting rooms, a group care space, a lab room, as well as a front desk and small workspace for center staff.

The MidTown Collaboration Center was created to bridge Cleveland’s downtown business center with its University Circle academic hub. It aims to bring together multiple sectors, companies, and disciplines under one roof. It’s an approach to economic development that centers around community. Other tenants in the building include CWRU’s Center for Population Health Research, Hyland Software’s Training Center, Black Frog Brewery, and Pearl’s Kitchen restaurant.

"The MidTown Collaboration Center is a hub of innovation, where cutting-edge services and programs are designed to uplift and empower Cleveland's residents," said Lillian Kuri, President and CEO of the Cleveland Foundation. "The new UH Diabetes Center stands as a cornerstone of this mission, embodying a groundbreaking approach to delivering critical care in partnership with the community."

“Everyone deserves to have the knowledge and tools to pursue and live a healthy life,” said Dr. Hatipoglu. “With this endeavor we hope to empower patients in this community to do just that.”

The UH Diabetes Center at MidTown within the MidTown Collaboration Center is located at 1974 East 66th Street in Cleveland. It was made possible, in part, by generous support from the Cleveland Foundation, Hearst Foundation, and Eaton.