Addressing barriers of self-management among African Americans with type 2 diabetes

Diabetes mellitus is a serious chronic condition that is growing in prevalence and disproportionately affects African Americans. Self-management skills such as exercising, blood glucose monitoring, following recommended diet, and taking daily medications are critical in achieving optimal glycemic control but these require multiple patient resources. As people age in our society, they lose resources and develop vulnerabilities that interfere with the ability to manage diabetes. Age-related resource loss disproportionately affects older African Americans with diabetes who are more likely than whites to have co-morbid hypertension and lower economic resources. However, despite these challenges and racial disparities in diabetes, there is a lack of information available on effective interventions to promote self-management in older African Americans. A randomized clinical trial design was used to assess whether a telephonic patient navigator intervention is effective for improving diabetes self-management, metabolic control, and quality of life among older African Americans with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The telephonic intervention addresses the vulnerability and resource needs that interfere with the ability to practice self management. Around 400 African-Americans 55 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes are being followed for three months. Results of the efficacy of the patient navigator telephonic intervention in improving diabetes self-management skills will be presented.