The GRACE Community Clinic works as hard at preventative medicine as it does on reactive treatment. Helping our clients avoid illness and long term health issues is maybe the easiest way to help keep them feeling their best. A great example of providing this information is with our diabetes program Progresando En Salud (“Progressing in Health”) which focuses on improving glycemic control for patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. Hosted on Zoom to 14 participants, the program began August 11th with an introduction to diabetes self-management training.
Every subsequent class of the 6 week program targeted improving a wide range of health behaviors through culturally tailored education. Week one focused on understanding diabetes, blood sugar values, and setting behavior goals. Week 2 discussed a range of culturally relevant food and their potential effect on blood sugar. Week 3 stressed the importance of exercise and provided patients with meal ideas for their daily routine. Week 4 and 5 targeted improving skills related to label reading, carb counting, and grocery shopping on a budget. Lastly, week 6 focused on sustaining healthy habits and the need to continually monitor one’s health.
This culturally tailored program resulted in an average reduction of 30 mg/dL in fasting blood glucose from week 1 to week 6. Weight changes varied from zero weight loss in some patients to up to 10 pounds lost in others. Over the next few weeks and months the clinic will continue to monitor the HbA1c results of the participants to evaluate the potential lasting effects of the program. The participants stated their appreciation for the program and most sought further one-on-one follow ups or programs to continue on their health journey. Common sentiments included “profound gratitude” and “reinvigoration for health.”
Antonio Miranda, the lead registered dietitian of the program had this to say “Grace is a Godsend to so many people. It is their sole opportunity for any form of healthcare. Together we are a team of medical workers called to serve those in need through our compassion and expertise. I would like to thank the clinic for facilitating such a program and for continuously seeking ways to better serve our patients. I would also like to thank the volunteers for sharing their time and ideas with the participants. We have many more programs to run and we will not stop until every patient gets an opportunity to combat the frightening, yet manageable disease that is diabetes. We live to serve those in need.”
If you’re interested in participating in future programs like this or have any questions about managing diabetes please contact our Clinic Nurse Manager, Shirley Roberts
