Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #108701

Ranjita Misra, PhD, CHES¹, Padmini Balagopal, RD, CDE², and N. Kamalamma, PhD². (1) Health&Kinesiology Department, Texas A&M University, 4243 TAMU, 158P Read Building, College Station, TX 77843-4243, 979-845-8726, misra@hlkn.tamu.edu, (2) Department of Homescience, Gandhigram Rural Institute, Gandhigram - 624 302, Dindigul District, Tamilnadu, India, Ambuteria, India

India is projected to have 79 million diabetics by the year 2030. However, community-based participatory prevention/intervention program does not exist. This study will measure the impact of a diabetes education program using formal and informal community leaders as peer educators (change agents) to prevent or delay the early onset of diabetes and improve self-management behaviors. Measures include (1) changes in diabetes knowledge, perceptions, risk factors, and lifestyle behaviors for prevention and self-management among the respondents, and (2) changes in blood sugar level, nutritional intake (calorie, carbohydrate, protein, fat, and fiber), and obesity that influence diabetes/complications. The program is based in three villages in South India. Respondents were screened for fasting blood sugar and OGTT and 75 pre-diabetic and 75 diabetic patients were recruited for the study. Three community representatives were trained for four weeks by a Certified Diabetes Educator and trained ‘Trainers'. One-on-one as well as group educational encounters were provided to the respondents to increase and track the behavior changes. Data collection was done through face-to-face interviews using trained staff at different points of intervention: 45 days, 60 days, 90 days and 120 days. Baseline information indicated 43 males and 74 females with a mean age of 48, less than high school education, and normal body weight and blood pressure. No significant difference was noted during the baseline and 45-day data point indicating this time interval is not enough for behavioral changes. Complete results and implications to reduce high rates of diabetes in rural Indian will be discussed.

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