Project Dulce for Arab Americans With Type 2 Diabetes
Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute
Summary
Arab Americans (AA) face many challenges in diabetes self-management due to the limited educational resources and support available for them. The cultural and linguistic barriers between patients and health care providers lead to poor diabetes management and outcomes. This study (Project Dulce Arabic) is adapted from the Project Dulce, an American Diabetes Association (ADA)-recognized Diabetes Self-Management Education Support (DSMES) program. Project Dulce Arabic comprises both peer-led diabetes education in Arabic and a 3-month text messaging program (Dulce Digital). The main aim of the study is to examine the effectiveness of a more culturally and linguistically appropriate diabetes education program in improving diabetes knowledge, beliefs, and self-management as well as hemoglobin A1C.
Description
Although the Arab American (AA) population is at a higher risk of pre-diabetes and type 2 diabetes (T2D) compared to the white non-Hispanic population, there are hardly any culturally appropriate diabetes self-management resources available for Arab Americans. Project Dulce Arabic is a pilot study addressing both the linguistic and cultural barriers faced by the AA community in diabetes self-management while exploring the genetic background of type 2 diabetes in Arab Americans. To overcome the linguistic barriers, we adapt educational materials from the Project Dulce diabetes self-management…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Are a participant of Metro Caring * Self-identified Arab * Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) * HbA1c ≥7.5% in the last 30 days * Able to speak, read, write, and comprehend in English and Arabic * Have access to a cell phone that can receive/send text messages throughout the study Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant * Are currently participating in another diabetes-related study
Interventions
- BehavioralProject Dulce + Dulce Digital
Project Dulce is a 5-week curriculum, group diabetes self-management education and support, program delivered by a peer educator in Arabic. The curriculum provides knowledge as well as skills and tools needed to change behaviors and adapt to a life with type 2 diabetes. The curriculum covers diabetes and its complication, the role of diet, exercise, and medication, and the importance of self-monitoring as well as the genetics contribution to diabetes development. It is presented over 5 weeks where participants will learn and practice diabetes self-management skills, and help one another address family, cultural, or health system barriers to managing their diabetes. . Following the 5-week curriculum, participants will be enrolled in the digital texting platform, Dulce Digital, in which they will receive on-going support via text messages derived from the curriculum, medication reminders, and blood glucose monitoring prompts in Arabic.
Locations (2)
- San Ysidro HealthEl Cajon, California
- Metro CaringDenver, Colorado