Advancing Diabetes Self Management
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
The goal of the Advancing Diabetes Self Management program at the Community Health Center was to improve the health outcomes of people with type 2 diabetes. This program targeted underserved, largely Hispanic adults who were patients at three different health center throughout Connecticut.
During the initial session, Certified Diabetes Educators collected baseline information and clinical data, performed an assessment of diabetes knowledge, psychosocial, cultural and social factors, and administered a depression screening questionnaire. Participants who had coexisting depression were referred to a therapist.
After the first session, participants were given the choice to take part in any of the following activities: individual education sessions, group sessions, physical activity sessions, and cooking clubs. Participants were encouraged to think about behaviors, goals, and actions that they could take to improve their health outcomes. After goals were set, staff members worked to repeatedly emphasize and encourage goal attainment and maintenance over time.
During the initial session, Certified Diabetes Educators collected baseline information and clinical data, performed an assessment of diabetes knowledge, psychosocial, cultural and social factors, and administered a depression screening questionnaire. Participants who had coexisting depression were referred to a therapist.
After the first session, participants were given the choice to take part in any of the following activities: individual education sessions, group sessions, physical activity sessions, and cooking clubs. Participants were encouraged to think about behaviors, goals, and actions that they could take to improve their health outcomes. After goals were set, staff members worked to repeatedly emphasize and encourage goal attainment and maintenance over time.
Goal / Mission
The goal of the Advancing Diabetes Self Management program at the Community Health Center was to improve the health outcomes of people with type 2 diabetes.
Impact
The diabetes self-management intervention showed patient improvements in glycemic control, blood pressure, and LDL cholesterol. The team was able to develop and adapt the program to meet the unique needs of the population to create an effective intervention.
Results / Accomplishments
In the diabetes self-management program, 488 patients participated. Patients who had provided pre- and post-intervention clinical data demonstrated a significant mean drop in A1C levels of 0.9% per year (p<0.0001). In addition, participant's average LDL cholesterol dropped by 23.3 mg/dl. In regards to lowering blood pressure, 42.3% of participants achieved a blood pressure of <130/80 mmHg which was a marked increase from 28.8% at the start of the program. Additionally, identifying and co-managing depression in affected patients showed similar clinical improvements to those found in non-depressed patients. However, the program also showed that training staff in self-management techniques requires time and monitoring, as the medical staff had a tendency to revert to less effective methods of teaching.
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
Community Health Center, Inc.
Primary Contact
Daren Anderson
635 Main Street
Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 347-6971
Andersd@chc1.com
http://www.diabetesinitiative.org/programs/DICHC.h...
635 Main Street
Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 347-6971
Andersd@chc1.com
http://www.diabetesinitiative.org/programs/DICHC.h...
Topics
Health / Diabetes
Organization(s)
Community Health Center, Inc.
Date of publication
Jan 2008
Location
Connecticut
For more details
Target Audience
Adults, Racial/Ethnic Minorities
Additional Audience
people with type 2 diabetes