Implementing a Diabetes Prevention and Management Program Utilizing Community Health Worker Model

It is estimated that 9–12% of New Mexicans have diagnosable diabetes and thousands more may be at risk. The cost of medical treatment and lost work productivity for New Mexicans with diabetes is an estimated $1.1 billion per year.

To reduce rate of diabetes among Hispanics in NM, Hidalgo Medical Services, a non-profit Community Health Center, created a diabetes prevention and management program titled “La Vida”. The vision of La Vida has been to see “generations of people free of the impact of diabetes through innovation and ownership of family health.”

The La Vida model has been effectively implemented in rural Southwest New Mexico utilizing community health workers (CHWs). CHWs provide one on one diabetes education, grocery store tours, label reading classes, nutrition education and comprehensive social support services to participants and their families.

Besides offering education to participants on an individual basis, La Vida has been effective in developing a community wide awareness about diabetes. This has been accomplished by conducting outreaches at health fairs, schools, senior centers, and at various community groups and organizations. La Vida has also developed a peer lead exercise program, restaurant initiative focusing on highlighting healthy menu options and has hosted an annual family fun day raising awareness about diabetes and other promoting physical activity for families.

La Vida was selected as a “best-practice model” by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Bureau of Primary Health Care in 2005 and is now disseminating the program model to areas serving similar populations.