Improving Diabetes Prevention and Management

Grantee Name

Beth Israel Medical Center’s Gerald J. Friedman Diabetes Institute

Funding Area

Improving Diabetes Prevention and Management

Publication Date

December 2011

Grant Amount

$245,861

Grant Date:

January 2, 2008–March 21, 2010

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South Asians have the highest rate of Type 2 diabetes among ethnic groups in New York City. More than 210,000 South Asians live in New York City—primarily in Queens.

In this community, immigration status, lack of health insurance, mistrust of the health care system, and language and/or cultural barriers all hinder optimal diabetes control. In January 2008, NYHealth awarded Beth Israel Medical Center a grant to improve the high rates of diabetes among members of the South Asian community. Beth Israel Medical Center’s Gerald J. Friedman Diabetes Institute met with key stakeholders in the South Asian community to discuss culturally and linguistically appropriate health interventions for people with diabetes. As a result, a dynamic model of diabetes prevention and disease management—the Queens/South Asian Action for Diabetes Education Programs and Treatment (ADEPT)—was established. NYHealth funded this project through its 2007 Setting the Standard: Advancing Best Practices in Diabetes Management request for proposals.

Outcomes and Lessons Learned

  • Created a unique, supportive community comprising certified diabetes educators, medical providers, and collaborative advocacy organizations.
  • Recruited nine medical providers from Queens who serve a significant number of South Asian patients to participate in ADEPT’s provider network, and two program staff members to work with the ADEPT provider network (a nurse who is also a certified diabetes educator (CDE) and a program coordinator—both of these staff members were from the South Asian community).
  • Provided approximately 400 South Asians with diabetes education and self-management skills.
  • Delivered free glucose testing, results consultations, referrals, and basic education to more than 1,100 individuals.
  • Searched for and adapted resources and materials from other countries such as the United Kingdom, India, Pakistan, and Australia, and asked ADEPT partners to review the materials for accuracy and relevance to ADA guidelines.

Read the report associated with this grant, “Setting the Standard: A Foundation Initiative to Achieve Best Practices in Diabetes Management.”