Diabetes Health: It's in Your Hands
MSU Extension in conjunction with MSU Department of
Family Practice has developed a program to help people better manage
their diabetes. Diabetes Health: It's in Your Hands is a
health behavior change program that addresses the lifestyle management
of diabetes. The program specifically targets individuals who are
receiving Medicaid assistance.
Diabetes Health: Its' in Your Hands is a
modification of a successful program called Sticking to It which was
a six-week program designed to encourage behavior change. The new
program, Diabetes Health: It's in Your Hands, maintains the
same behavior change philosophies, but has additional information
which is covered during the expanded ten-week program. Diabetes
Health: It's in Your Hands includes more nutrition and health
information than it's earlier version, and uses motivational interviewing
techniques.
- Finding Your Path to Health
- Talking to Your Doctor
- Managing Stress
- Staying Healthy
- Balancing Food Choices
- Controlling Portion Sizes
- Eating on the Run
Goals:
The aim of this project is to prepare Michigan communities to address the need for prevention and management of diabetes among Medicaid consumers.
Goal 1: Enhance the training that is available to paraprofessional staff who that addresses prevention and management of chronic disease in Medicaid populations.
Goal 2: Enhance communication and relationships between the health care community, other community partners, and MSU Extension staff related to diabetes prevention and management.
Goal 3: Enhance Medicaid consumers' role as collaborators in making behavior changes to prevent and manage chronic disease, in four to six Michigan counties.
Achievements:
Diabetes Health: It's in Your Hands began
in May of 2003. Over 100 people have either completed the program
or are currently participating.
Although evaluation results are not complete, participants have strong opinions about the program and the personal changes they have made as a result of participation. People have reported weight loss; healthier eating habits; increases in physical activity; development of new friendships; and other lifestyle changes. Some participants have even formed their own support groups as a result of the program.
Branch County and Kent County were recently added to the list of counties implementing the program.
Current Projects
Cheboygan, Presque Isle, and Montmorency Counties
Saginaw
Kalamazoo
