Take Charge of Your Health

Patients with diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis are embracing a self-management plan that dramatically improves their lives. So why won't insurers pay for it?

Chronic diseases are now the leading cause of disability and death in the United States, with seven in ten deaths each year attributed to such illnesses as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. About 133 million Americans—nearly one in two adults—live with at least one chronic disease, and more than one in ten have three or more.

In 1991 Kate Lorig and a team of Stanford researchers set out to develop a results-oriented self-management program that would improve the quality of life for people with chronic conditions.

The team started by organizing focus groups for more than 100 people with ongoing illnesses in northern California. Each participant was asked a simple question: "What are your disease-related problems?"

Although their illnesses varied, they shared some common symptoms (fatigue, fear, depression) and had similar lifestyle issues (poor diet, lack of exercise, smoking) that were interfering with their health. Read the entire article.

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