Last Updated on December 11, 2024
A group of Arizona State University students and alum are working to reduce the amount of Latinos that are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. The group has looked at the prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Latinos in the Arizona area and has decided to try and help to reduce the number of lives affected by the disease. The ASU group has partnered with Saint Vincent De Paul Medical and Dental Clinic’s Family Wellness Program.
Increased Risk Of Diabetes In Latinos
Diabetes is a drastic problem in the Latino community. Latino youth are the fastest growing demographic for diabetes diagnosis in the United States. Almost 40% of Hispanic children ages 2- 19 were considered overweight or obese compared to all other children of different ethnic groups. While Latino youth are the fastest growing, diabetes also is extremely prevalent in Hispanic adults. Based on data from the National Diabetes Education Program, one in ten Hispanic adults over the age of 20 have diabetes.
Every Little Step Counts
The collaboration created, “Every Little Step Counts” a nutrition and exercise program aimed to reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in Latinos. The mission of the Every Little Step Counts is to:
“Create a culturally appropriate healthy lifestyle educational program for Latino children at highest risk for type 2 diabetes”
The program did an initial evidence-based study using 102 teenage participants. School nurses referred the teenagers to the program. All participants were in the 95th percentile or higher for BMI and also met other requirements for developing type 2 diabetes. All participants were to be tested for insulin resistance and cholesterol levels before they were fully admitted into the program.
The students and alumni working with the program are dedicated to making a difference in the community. Hanna Rahman, a senior at ASU and a research assistant for the program says, “The population that we’re working with is a very minority group of kids. The fact that we get to work with a community that is sometimes overlooked was something that was very appealing to me.” These students and alum are trying to take research and make it have a real world impact.
The program lasted 12 weeks and focused on nutrition and exercise. When the program began, the youth (along with their parents) attended healthy lifestyle classes that examined issues of the connection between diabetes and nutrition. After the classes were over, participants attended one-on-one appointments with dietitians to overcome obstacles they were facing.
At the end of the 12-week research portion of the program, results showed a decrease in fasting insulin by 24%. The participants reduced total cholesterol by 5.4%.
These results are reinforcing ideas that we have known for some time; educating communities on nutrition and exercise can have a positive impact on the reduction of health risks like diabetes. Every Little Steps Counts is an important program because it takes research and has begun to apply it to the surrounding community.
We can expect to see programs similar to this one popping up around America. Partnerships with Universities, hospitals, and community centers could become commonplace. Education programs that focus on nutrition, physical activity, and support will make a significant impact on the amount of children and adults diagnosed with diabetes.
Currently there are very few programs working on diabetes education, and none of them are as extensive as Every Little Step Counts. Hopefully as Every Little Step Counts progresses, they will be able to drastically reduce the number of families that are being affected by type 2 diabetes, and other universities will begin to take steps towards creating their own program.
If you know of any programs similar to Every Little Step Counts, please share in the comments or on Facebook.
