Building Community Support for American Indian People with Diabetes

The goal of the Building Community Support (BCS) for American Indian People with Diabetes project was to improve the health outcomes of American Indians living in Montana and Wyoming who had been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

The BCS worked towards achieving their goal by: 1) providing effective, community-based and culturally-appropriate self management programs and 2) offering community-based support and follow up services that encouraged and assisted participants in making changes that would improve their disease management.

The BCS provided extensive training to all diabetes staff, tribal health staff, and Community Health Representatives (CHRs) on diabetes, the Diabetes Self Management Education (DSME) curriculum, motivational interviewing and follow up support. DSME programs were offered to tribes and CHRs met with DSME participants at least once a month for follow up, motivation and goal-setting. In addition, people with diabetes were encouraged to attend weekly Talking Circles that provided support for self management.

The goal of the Building Community Support for American Indian People with Diabetes project was to improve the health outcomes of American Indians with diabetes.

Results from 30 participants from the Eastern Shoshone tribe were reported. Of these individuals, 57% had achieved some reduction in their weight, 57% had lower overall cholesterol levels, 50% had achieved a reduction in their systolic and diastolic blood pressures, 46% had lower triglyceride levels, and 34% had reduced their HbA1c levels.