Improving the implementation of diabetes self-management: Findings from the Alliance to Reduce Disparities in Diabetes

Abstract

To enhance the health and well-being of patients managing type 2 diabetes, the five grantees comprising the Alliance to Reduce Disparities in Diabetes implemented evidence-based approaches to patient self-management education as part of their programs. This article describes strategies implemented by the grantees that may help explain program success, defined as improvement in clinical values and patient-reported outcomes. A process evaluation of grantee programs included interviews and document review at the beginning, midpoint, and end of the Alliance initiative. A total of 97 interviews were conducted over time with 65 program representatives. The Alliance programs served 2,328 people from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds and provided 36,826 diabetes self-management sessions across the intervention sites. Framework analysis of the interviews identified four key themes that emerged across time and program sites that may help account for program success: empowerment, increasing access and support, addressing local needs and barriers, and care coordination. The overall evaluation findings may help other diabetes self-management programs seeking to translate and implement evidence-based approaches to reduce disparities and enhance patient well-being.