The diabetes day treatment experiment: A preliminary report on what we learned

PURPOSE this paper presents data on the efficacy of a diabetes day treatment progra m to modify, the healthcare behavior of elderly African Americans with diab etes. METHODS African American patients with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes who were referred by their certified diabetes educator were eligible to participate in the da y treatment program. The program was designed to serve eight patients for 4 hours 1! day a week over 9 months. Participants engaged in informal discus sions, low-impact armchair exercises, and discussions of various diabetes i ssues. A flow sheet was initiated and maintained by the investigators to re cord information pertaining to each participant's blood pressure, blood sug ar, and weight at each session. Attendance and reasons for not attending se ssions were recorded. To obtain more in-depth information, the group leader s used a technique Known as participant observation. RESULTS Having CDEs administer a blood sugar test, take blood pressure, and weigh e ach patient at each clinic visit promotes patient adherence to the diabetes treatment regimen, memory loss was observed to be especially prevalent amo ng the subjects. CONCLUSIONS The Diabetes Day Treatment Program may be used as a model for working with elderly persons with diabetes from different ethnic groups.