Four DC African-American Women with Diabetes Highlighted on Educational CD-ROM

10/21/2005

October 21, 2005 -- Diabetes: Living My Best Life", an educational CD-ROM, combines a technology-based interface with culturally engaging content for African American women working to manage type 2 diabetes. Today there are 60,000 people in the District of Columbia with type 2 diabetes."The result of those tests after exercising was really rewarding. I could see the number right away, from that morning number to that number after exercising. So that's keeping me motivated", reports Faith, an African-American woman in her 50's with type 2 diabetes, who is featured in the Exercise section of the CD-ROM.Type 2 diabetes has reached epidemic status among African-American women, with one in four African American women older than age 55 reported as having the disease. This rate is two times higher than in white American women.

In the last 12 years the percentage of African Americans with diabetes has doubled from 8.9% to18.2%. African-American women are twice as likely as white women to be diagnosed with diabetes and once diagnosed African-American women are more likely to experience severe complications, such as kidney disease and blindness. Diabetes with its related complications is the fourth leading cause of death in the African-American community and the fifth leading cause nationwide.There is no cure for diabetes. The progression of the disease is managed through medication and changes toward a healthier lifestyle. Lifestyle modifications, such as changes in diet, weight loss, and a low-impact exercise program, can significantly reduce the complications of type 2 diabetes.

However, implementing these lifestyle changes and understanding appropriate health care and medication regimens can be a challenge.According to Gretchen Youssef, Program Director of the MedStar Diabetes Institute, "There is a real shortage of diabetes educators and we need to look at many different ways to meet the needs of a vast number of patients with type 2 diabetes." Ms. Youssef, who is responsible for 30,000 patients in the Washington, D.C.-based MedStar Health System, continues, "Diabetes: Living My Best Life" includes the psychosocial aspects of managing the disease and provides a cross-cultural bridge to better serve African-American women."Most African-American women with type 2 diabetes report a sedentary lifestyle and a high-fat diet. To date few educational materials have targeted this vulnerable population. HealthMark Multimedia developed Diabetes: Living My Best Life" to address this scarcity of training and educational materials for African-American women diagnosed with type 2 diabetes."I do eat more fruits and vegetables now. I did not think I would like the different types of vegetables, until I tried flavoring them," claims Angel in her early 40's, who tells her story in the Food and Nutrition section.About Diabetes: Living My Best Life":Diabetes: Living My Best Life" uses the tradition of African-American storytelling to engage users in diabetes education and self-management planning.

Four African-American women with type 2 diabetes share their experiences to provide a framework for understanding the real-life challenges of monitoring blood sugar levels, planning food and nutrition, increasing exercise and physical activity, and improving medical care. Betty in her early 60's has used the techniques in this CD-ROM to manage her care through careful monitoring of her blood sugar levels. "I have been able to manage my blood sugar with exercise and eating properly."Accompanying each story is in-depth educational content and interactive tools for skills practice in reading food labels, controlling portions, monitoring blood sugar, overcoming exercise barriers, and other essential tasks related to self-management. Computer simulations and learning activities enhance retention and encourage application through skill rehearsal and self-testing. Music, individual self-assessment and feedback help motivate and encourage users.