Beth Israel Medical Center, Friedman Diabetes Institute

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. Thus, with support from NYHealth, 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. This project was funded under NYHealth’s 2007 Setting the Standard: Advancing Best Practices in Diabetes Management request for proposals.

South Asians have the highest rate of Type 2 diabetes among ethnic groups in New York City. Beth Israel Division of Endocrinology receives 10,000 diabetes-related visits annually, many of whom are South Asian. This project trained primary care physicians on the implementation of the ADA standards of care for South Asian patients and provided diabetes management, using a culturally competent curriculum and certified diabetes educator for South Asian patients.

To help improve the diabetes care and awareness among this population, the Beth Israel Medical Center’s Friedman Institute worked with the South Asian Health Project to launch Queens/South Asian ADEPT. Elements of the ADEPT program included: training providers regarding the American Diabetes Association’s standards of care, educating patients about ways to manage their disease, and creating opportunities within the community to help those with diabetes control the disease.