Diabetes Lifestyle Assessment and Educational Tools

Development and Evaluation of Lifestyle Assessment and Educational Tools for Diabetic People With Limited Literacy

Aim: To evaluate a culturally-adapted method of lifestyle assessment, counseling, and education among Arab people with diabetes who have varying literacy skills using an interactive computerized tool and graphically-enhanced patient logs for dietary and physical activity.

The investigators hypothesize that this tool will: a) increase patients' knowledge and understanding of the role of lifestyle (diet and physical activity) in diabetes management; b) improve patients' engagement in monitoring dietary intake and physical activity; c) improve dietary and physical activity behaviors and self-blood glucose monitoring (SBGM) practices; d) improve glycemic control; and, e) improve the efficiency of lifestyle assessment, education and counseling while increasing patients' engagement in the process.

Aim: To evaluate a culturally-adapted method of lifestyle assessment, counseling, and education among Arab people with diabetes who have varying literacy skills using an interactive computerized tool and graphically-enhanced patient logs for dietary and physical activity. The investigators will evaluate the effectiveness of this method for: a) increasing patients' knowledge and understanding of the role of lifestyle (diet and physical activity) in diabetes management; b) improving patients' engagement in monitoring dietary intake and physical activity; c) improving dietary and physical activity behaviors and self-blood glucose monitoring (SBGM) practices; d) improving glycaemic control; and, e) improving the efficiency of lifestyle assessment, education and counseling while increasing patients' engagement in the process.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 40-64 years old
• BMI 27-45 kg/m2
• Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus in medical record
• HbA1c 8.0%-11.5%

Exclusion Criteria:

• Short-acting insulin treatment
• Inadequate control of co-morbid conditions
• Factors that may limit adherence to interventions (e.g., any medical or physical condition that limits the ability to participate in physical activity or standard diets recommended for people with diabetes, pregnancy, uncontrolled psychiatric condition, significant cognitive impairment, blindness).