“People in our community are being more active in trying to watch what they eat,” says Dr. Jane Delgado, president and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (NAHH), in reference to the study. “The bigger problem, however, is that the level of physical activity has gone down, which is bad because that is one of the major ways to prevent the onset of diabetes and delay negative consequences.”
Preventability is now reshaping the message about diabetes for Hispanics across the country. Instead of focusing on genetic predisposition and age, health experts are drawing attention to the ways in which individuals can actively reduce their chances of developing type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes. And this begins with raising awareness on controllable risk factors that can trigger diabetes, such as inactivity.
Programs like NAHH’s ¡Vive tu Vida! Get up! Get Moving! utilize a family-oriented approach to encourage physical activity. The initiative’s nationwide efforts make use of parks, playgrounds, and community recreation centers to emphasize the benefits of healthier lifestyles.
“For kids, teens, adults, and seniors, we have everything from tai chi to yoga to zumba,” says Dr. Delgado of the NAHH’s events, which often provide free cholesterol and glucose screenings for participants. “We also offer materials for outreach workers looking to provide community workshops on diabetes so that they can use these materials and tailor them to local habits.”
Using a tailored, community-based approach has also proven successful for the National Latina Health Network’s Hoy en Adelante initiative. Funded in part by the National Diabetes Education Program, Hoy en Adelante addresses diabetes preventability amongst Latinos using one-act skits on topics such as portion control, family support, communication and exercise.
“Our message is about prevention, and that prevention doesn’t necessarily require medical intervention if you can make some healthier lifestyle choices as early as possible,” says Patricia Teffenhart-Maikos, associate director of Regional Programs for the National Latina Health Network. “Exercise, for example, can be salsa dancing, vacuuming, or running up and down the stairs with an infant and a basket of laundry in your arms. It’s probably something that you’re already doing.”
Emphasis on active, healthy lifestyles have reshaped health promotion and disease prevention messages within the Hispanic community. And experts acknowledge that though improvement is still needed in providing consistent access to bilingual health professionals and services, the health landscape within the community is changing.
Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, information systems and technology laws now require health data collection on race, ethnicity, and gender. Also included are requirements for increased health insurance support for unemployed individuals and expanded resources for community health centers. For many Hispanics who are underinsured or noninsured, this may help to ensure better access to preventative health and early detection services.
Such shifts in health trends and legislation appear promising in changing the message about chronic diseases like diabetes from one of inevitability to one of preventability. And more often than not, these messages begin at the community level, through organizations like the National Latina Health Network and the National Alliance for Hispanic Health.
“We no longer talk about eliminating disparities, we talk about best outcomes for all,” says Dr. Delgado. “Above all, you want the treatment that works for you, the best outcome. And the best outcome for all is the best outcome for each individual.”
By Elizabeth Cherneff
