Programs & Resource Archive
Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects how bodies turn food into energy. Three main types of diabetes exist: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant). The disease is a widespread and crucial problem affecting large numbers of people in the United States: indeed, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 122 million Americans are living with diabetes (34.2 million) or prediabetes (88 million). Diabetes is particularly prevalent amongst underserved low-income populations: as a study from the American Diabetes Association found, individuals with limited health literacy are most likely to be diagnosed due to a variety of social determinants of health, such as barriers to attending scheduled appointments.
To help confront this issue, the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved has developed simple, easily understandable patient education and self-care guides in a variety of languages and literacy levels. Patient education resources can play a key role in helping to address this crisis: find these and other resources below.
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Key Diabetes Patient Education Resources
More ACU Articles Related to Diabetes
Randy Hall: Dedicated Advocate for the Underserved
March 14, 2013
On Friday, March 8, 2013 ACU recognized Emerson ‘Randy’ Hall for his dedicated service as an advocate for the underserved. Randy served as an ACU board member from 2008 – 2012. He has made significant contributions to health care for the underserved in the areas of HIV/AIDs, depression and mental health services, diabetes, smoking and access to care, to new only a few. He has been involved in patient advocacy and worked with more than 70 national societies and consumer groups. The … [Read more…]
Jessica Wallace, PA, Says We Can! Tackle Obesity
January 3, 2013
As a Physician Assistant at Upper Cardozo Clinic in Washington, DC, Jessica Wallace serves a largely immigrant population that is mostly uninsured and culturally isolated. Her patients are disproportionately affected by diabetes, hypertension, obesity and other chronic conditions. So Jessica and her team have implemented an innovative program called We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity & Nutrition) to engage their clients in achieving better health for themselves and their … [Read more…]
Michelle Lamb, Pharm.D., CDE, BCACP
December 10, 2012
Clinical pharmacist Michelle Lamb, Pharm.D., CDE, BCACP, takes pride in being part of a transdisciplinary health care team. She combines high tech (health IT is an important tool in enhancing patient care) with and high touch, delivering information tailored to the patient’s culture and literacy level. … [Read more…]
Featured Mobile Apps
July 30, 2012
Mobile apps are nifty tools for cell phones and other wireless devices that help users manage their health. This month’s featured mobile app, UMSkinCheck, is designed to facilitate regular skin checks for cancer screening. UMSkinCheck was developed at the University of Michigan in a joint effort involving clinical and technology experts. It is available for iPhones and iPads and downloadable from iTunes. Read more about it here. Tell us if you know of a mobile app that would be of interest to … [Read more…]
Bridging the Disparities Gap with Mobile Technology
June 22, 2012
MHealth provides vital tools to support the goals of health care reform to increase health care access, improve care delivery systems, engage in culturally competent outreach and education with technology that is easy to use, affordable and scalable, and is already adopted by patients of all ages and socioeconomic status. Mobile health technology (mHealth) is changing the way the world approaches health care access and delivery. Text messaging is used to support patient adherence with chronic … [Read more…]
“Kicking the Can” at the National Soda Summit
June 15, 2012
How can Americans “kick the can” and limit our consumption of sugary beverages? This was the main issue explored at the first National Soda Summit hosted by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) on June 7 and 8, in Washington, DC. Nearly 250 people, including educators, activists, foundation executives, and public health advocates, such as ACU Executive Director Kathie Westpheling and I, attended this conference to explore the scope of issues involved with sugar-sweetened … [Read more…]
New Diabetes Patient Education Resources
April 25, 2012
New and available free: patient education about the Fasting Blood Sugar Test. Patient handouts and videos are available in English, French, Russian and Spanish from Healthy Roads Media. These materials are adapted from the high-quality and extensive multilingual health education resources of Health Information Translations. Check out both websites for the tools you need. … [Read more…]
ACU Funds Member to Study Quality Improvement
February 1, 2012
ACU member Deborah Nuber, director of operations at Zufall Health Center in Dover, NJ, was the recipient of an ACU-Kaiser Permanente Scholarship to attend the National Forum on Quality Improvement in Health Care annual meeting in Orlando, FL in December. Ms. Nuber said the conference offered up both motivation and inspiration. “Of particular benefit to me,” she said, “was the safety net panel discussion which provided real time specific actions that could be implemented almost immediately to … [Read more…]
