Increasing Healthy Behaviors to Reduce Diabetes Risk Among Public Housing Residents

A study funded by INQRI and conducted by a research team led by Robin Whittemore and Alana Rosenberg, indicates that nurses can play an important role in helping public housing residents reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes by changing behaviors.

The team tested a diabetes prevention program (DPP) implemented by home health care nurses in four public housing communities in the rural Northeast.  The study included a control group of residents who received enhanced standard care and an intervention group who received the DPP program.

The intervention group showed significant improvement in healthy eating and physical activity, and reduced stress and depressive symptoms, as well as triglyceride levels.

This study, and a related one also conducted by Whittemore and Rosenberg, underscore the need for culturally relevant health programs for public housing residents.

Read the brief on the study.

Webinar on Improving Communications in Diabetes – Innovative Approaches

Research evidence shows that clinical outcomes for chronic illnesses such as diabetes can be improved with effective communication, which is also vital to closing care gaps for racial/ethnic disparities. AcademyHealth is hosting a webinar to highlight communication interventions and the need for cross cultural communication competency in diabetes care on Tuesday, November 12, 2013, 1:00 - 2:30 p.m. EST. More information on the webinar is available by clicking here and registration is available here.

Objectives for the webinar include recognizing the role of shared decision making in the management of chronic diseases such as diabetes, and looking at how data on outcomes associated with shared decision making can improve care delivery. The webinar is free for AcademyHealth members and $250 for non-members.

An INQRI study published earlier this year in the Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice, and conducted by a research team led by Robin Whittemore and Alana Rosenberg, underscored the difficulties of ensuring adherence to diabetes prevention programs and highlighted the need for culturally relevant programs for public housing residents, including behavioral and psychosocial support.

INQRI Grantee on Diabetes Prevention in the Community

INQRI grantee Robin Whittemore recently wrote about her INQRI-funded project, "A Diabetes Prevention Program in the Community" for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Partnership for Action blog.

Dr. Whittemore, her co-project investigator Alana Rosenberg, MPH, and their team conducted a randomized clinical trial to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in at-risk adults with a diabetes prevention program provided by visiting nurses in subsidized housing units. They modified a research-based diabetes prevention program; evaluated the preliminary effects of the modified diabetes prevention program provided by visiting nurses; and explored the reach, adoption, implementation and cost of a diabetes prevention program delivered by visiting nurses to residents in subsidized housing units.

To check out Dr. Whittemore's post, please visit the the National Partnership for Action blog.

Nurse-Led Program Helps Improve Diabetes Parameters

A study presented at the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and reported on in MedPage Today showed that a Diabetes Self-Management Training program administered by certified diabetes nurse educators helped patients lower their fasting home glucose levels and reduce their glycosylated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). The latter at higher levels than a control group who received only diabetes titration instruction.

The program was administered in a community outpatient clinic. Eighty-four patients received titration instruction and of those 45 also received Diabetes Self-Management Training. While both experienced improvements in the key parameters, those who had the second intervention had an additional 1.92 percent decrease in HbA1c levels.

An INQRI study recently published in the Journal of Health Disparities Research and Practice and conducted by a research team led by Robin Whittemore and Alana Rosenberg underscored the difficulties of ensuring adherence to diabetes prevention programs. The study highlights the need for culturally relevant programs for public housing residents that include behavioral and psychosocial support.

Nurse Led Team Improves Outcomes for High-Risk Patients With Diabetes

Last week, Newswise.com detailed how Professor Kathleen Falk of the New York City College of Technology and chairperson of the Adult Day Health Council has successfully completed a study addressing diabetes management issues in low-income communities. In the study, Professor Falk and her team provided a community-based care plan followed by testing and evaluation every three months to monitor disease markers. Within the first three months of the study, Professor Falk's team observed 60% of the participants have a decrease in A1C(blood sugar) levels.

Click here to access the full news article

Click here to read about INQRI grantees' work on Diabetes prevention

Highlight on INQRI Work: Diabetes Prevention

INQRI researchers at Yale University are conducting a randomized clinical trial to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in at-risk adults with a diabetes prevention program provided by visiting nurses in subsidized housing units. They will modify a research-based diabetes prevention program; evaluate the preliminary effects of the modified diabetes prevention program provided by visiting nurses; and they will explore the reach, adoption, implementation, and cost of a diabetes prevention program delivered by visiting nurses to residents in subsidized housing units.

This work, led by Robin Whittemore, Ph.D., a nurse scholar, and Alana Rosenberg, M.P.H., a scholar in public health, comes at a crucial time. A study published in this month's issue of Diabetes Care suggests that the number of Americans with diabetes is expected to almost double by 2034.

Click here to read more.


To read more about the other important work conducted by INQRI researchers, please visit our website.

Updates on Diabetes Prevention Efforts

Minnesota Sen. Al Franken (D) has introduced legislation aimed at reducing diabetes rates, the Minnesota Post reports. Co-sponsored by Rep. Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.), the Diabetes Prevention Act of 2009 will provide grants to community-based diabetes prevention (CDP) programs that seek to identify, refer and provide individuals at high risk for diabetes with cost-effective, group-based lifestyle intervention programs. In addition, the legislation will allow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to establish a recognition program for CDP programs that requires them to adhere to specific standards and submit outcomes data; develop curriculum and training for intervention programs offered in partnership with state diabetes programs, academic institutions and community-based non-profits; and provide evaluation, monitoring and technical assistance to each CDP program. In addition, the legislation will establish a public registry of the CDC-recognized programs. Finally, the legislation will provide applied research grants to advance the national strategy for community-based programs, improve communication strategies for high-risk communities and examine model benefit and payment methods for diabetes care (Kimball, Minnesota Post, 11/6/09). (c) RWJF 2009

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INQRI researchers Robin Whittemore, Ph.D., a nurse scholar and Alana Rosenberg, M.P.H., a scholar in public health are conducting a randomized clinical trial to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in at-risk adults. Their INQRI project, "A Diabetes Prevention Program in the Community," features visiting nurses in subsidized housing units. The team will modify a research-based diabetes prevention program; evaluate the preliminary effects of the modified diabetes prevention program provided by visiting nurses; and they will explore the reach, adoption, implementation, and cost of a diabetes prevention program delivered by visiting nurses to residents in subsidized housing units.