Abstract
Creating Effective In-Person Peer Support Groups for Latinos With Diabetes
Director of Nutrition Services and Outreach Programs and Coordinator of Diabetes Management Programs at Community Pediatrics
When it comes to chronic care management, Latinos have more trust in the recommendations offered by their neighbors, compadres, and friends than those of their health care team. Latinos like to be around other Latinos, share their concerns, and learn from each other. Health care professionals are seen as troubleshooters and sources of scientific information. Only when you are able to translate science into practice can you gain respect and trust.
Support groups for Latinos that have good show and retention rates have CDEs in the back seat and allow attendees to direct the conversation. The CDE’s role is to answer questions and help introduce new topics in a very informal way—this could be through a question, a story, or just asking for opinions on a given statement. It’s important to avoid steering the conversation against attendees’ wishes. The atmosphere of the group needs to be very relaxed and fun, allowing for a safe space for attendees to vent and discuss their own experience with diabetes in whichever language they prefer. If language is a barrier, then identify staff, community health workers, or other personnel who are willing to be trained in diabetes self-management education and are knowledgeable in diabetes and skilled to facilitate the group in their preferred language.
The most effective support groups that see improvements in overall A1C are those that connect people with similar interests. This helps to create a sense of community that attracts even more attendees. Recruiting from populations who share the same age range, gender, country, food preferences, hobbies, or zip code does the trick. It is important to identify leaders within the groups that become peer educators. They can recruit, translate, and narrow the divide between the CDE and the person with diabetes.
When referring to support groups, take into consideration the schedule and length of the program. Sometimes it’s easier for individuals to commit to 4 weekly 2.5-hour-long classes than to 1 hour for 10 weeks. A small meal or snack and eating together makes the group friendlier. It’s also important to remember that attendees might need to bring children with them.
Offering peer support services to Latinos with diabetes in your community can be a powerful tool to motivate individuals who might be marginalized or feel ignored by health care institutions. If you don’t feel ready to start your own support group yet, you can refer individuals to the website of the American Diabetes Association En Español or DiabetesSisters.org for informational forums or peer support groups in Spanish. The Robin Hood Foundation can also connect you with different organizations working with Latinos who have diabetes.
Hispanics and the Diabetes Online Community: A Growing and Needed Support Platform
Project Manager at Beyond Type 1
My first experiences with diabetes online communities started just a couple of weeks after my son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. There were so many helpful people who understood my challenges and experience. The only issues for me was that all my online “friends” spoke English. I didn’t have a single Spanish speaker who I could reach out to. Although finding these online communities was a lifesaver, the empowerment I felt awoke in me the passion to find and engage with Hispanic online communities.
With time, more communities and educational sites for Spanish speakers were created, and our community had a place to go. These sites, blogs, and forums were a bridge to connect hundreds of thousands of people with diabetes and their loved ones with information, the latest news, and most importantly, support.
It’s important to remember that even though diabetes support, education, and management are the same for all, Hispanics have their own way of talking and sharing their experiences and concerns. Twenty countries speak Spanish with different customs, food choices, ways of talking, and especially with different approaches or access to diabetes care and management. Here is where the online community fills that void and provides a safe space for this community to continue to learn and improve their diabetes management.
Being able to talk about how to manage those typical dishes and learning how to cook them more healthily will benefit not only the person with diabetes but their entire family. We know the Hispanic population has a higher incidence of type 2 diabetes and obesity; finding healthier ways to maintain the tradition and still enjoy a delicious meal could be a first step to prevent new cases.
So, get to know the concerns, questions, and fears of your Hispanic clients; it will help you as an educator to guide them and create a diabetes management plan that fits their lifestyle, customs, and necessities. Ask them if they prefer Spanish-language resources and help them identify online communities that would be right for them— because to go online and have the ability to share your own stories and experiences in your preferred language is a powerful tool.
A few Spanish-language sites I recommend are EsTuDiabetes.org, es.BeyondType2.org (for your type 2 diabetes), and es.beyondtype1.org (for type 1 diabetes).