Project Dulce Diabetes Care and Education Program

Project Dulce, established by Scripps Diabetes Institute in 1997, is a culturally sensitive peer-led diabetes education program targeted to underserved populations.

The program’s curriculum gives an overview of diabetes and its complications as well as relevant topics on diet, exercise, medication, and blood glucose monitoring, while also being sensitive to cultural beliefs that may affect good diabetes self-management. Developed through the collaboration of San Diego-based health care professionals, the program has now been implemented by other groups throughout the United States.

One of the key components that has made this program successful is that it is based on a low-cost, sustainable model by using trained peer-educators (also known as community health workers) who conduct diabetes education class sessions at the community level. Another important aspect of this project is that training programs and technical assistance is provided for outside groups wanting to use the Project Dulce curriculum.

Learn more about Project Dulce.