Research and Programs

Together on Diabetes

In January 2012, JHCAIH began a partnership with Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) Foundation's "Together on Diabetes" initiative to participate in a two-year pilot project that will address the increasing burden of type 2 diabetes on youth and their families in four tribal communities.  The project will work intensively with the following communities: White Mountain Apache Nation and three communities on the Navajo Nation (Chinle AZ, Tuba City AZ and Shiprock NM).

American Indians and Alaska Natives suffer the highest rates of diabetes in the nation.  This developing epidemic in American Indian communities no longer impacts adults only; the number of youth diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is increasing annually.  The Center for American Indian Health and Bristol-Myers Squibb began a partnership in January 2012 that will work to engage four tribal communities to combat the rise in type 2 diabetes among youth and their families.

Through this initiative, we will engage Indian Health Service Providers (IHS), tribal diabetes programs and local community stakeholders to identify gaps in diabetes prevention and care and assets for filling those gaps. With this knowledge, we will implement an evidence-based intervention that is appropriate for the community needs and resources in the target communities. The intervention will help families with individuals who suffer from type 2 diabetes to self-manage their disease and navigate care systems. In addition, it will help family members reduce their risk of developing type 2 diabetes by implementing a family-centered healthy lifestyle program.

We will train local family health coaches in each of the communities to deliver the intervention, educate, support and provide case management to the families via home-based outreach.  They will play a key role in the success of the program as they will directly impact 250 families. During this two year period, we hope to not only impact individual families, but build integrate and coordinate policy effort at the community level. We are excited about this opportunity to impact the lives and communities of those with and at risk of developing type 2 diabetes and look forward to seeing the positive lifestyle-changes that take place as a result of this program.

PROJECT TIMELINE

The program lauched with a stakeholders meeting in Chinle, Arizona on February 8, 2012. Here, leading community members, Indian Health Services key personnel and the Center worked together to identify gaps and assets in diabetes programming.  This two-year program will begin recruitment this summer and will conclude in January 2013.

Project PI:  Mathuram Santosham, MD, MPH
Project Director: Allison Barlow, MA, MPH
Project Manager: Nicole Neault, MPH
Project Coordinator: Rachel Strom, MPH

RELATED RESEARCH OR SERVICE PROJECTS

Together on Diabetes-Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation's Initiative