Health Literacy Intervention for African Americans With Diabetes

Health Literacy Enhanced Intervention for Inner-city African Americans With Uncontrolled Diabetes: A Pilot Study

Disparities in diagnosis and control of type 2 diabetes mellitus are most evident in African Americans (AAs) with lower socioeconomic status. Health literacy is an important predictor of adequate self-management and control of diabetes. The purpose of this pilot study was to test the feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a health literacy-enhanced diabetes intervention -Prevention through Lifestyle intervention And Numeracy (PLAN) 4 Success-Diabetes, in inner-city, low-income AAs with uncontrolled diabetes. To evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of the intervention, the investigators conducted a pilot study with 24-week follow-up. The investigators that participation in the PLAN 4 Success-diabetes intervention would be associated with a reduction in glucose outcomes and improvements in psychosocial variables.

Inclusion Criteria:

• African Americans residing in Baltimore, Maryland
• had uncontrolled diabetes (defined as HbA1C>7%)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Unable to give informed consent
• Physical or mental health conditions that could limit active participation in the study (e.g., blindness in both eyes, severe immobility, psychiatric diseases)
• Hematological condition that would affect HbA1C assay, e.g., hemolytic anemia, sickle cell anemia