Clinic to Community Navigation to Improve Diabetes Outcomes

Background and justification: Nearly 29 million Americans (9.3% of the population) have type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and another 86 million are considered prediabetic, 20-30% of whom will develop diabetes within five years.4,5 T2DM disproportionately affects those from lower socioeconomic status (SES) and rural backgrounds. Appalachian residents represent an extreme version of this already vulnerable population, with rates of diabetes 46% higher than national averages.6,7 The investigators have developed, pilot tested (N=41) and refined (N=48 in-depth interviews, 4 focus groups with 31 participants, and 2 CAB meetings with 16 members), a culturally appropriate, feasible, and promising intervention that combines diabetes self-management education and tailored patient navigation intervention., Goal: Our goal focuses on reducing HbA1c, BMI, blood pressure, lipids, and waist circumference and improving T2DM self-management and clinic attendance. Leveraging local assets, including faith communities, local health facilities, trained community health workers, and social support, the investigators will expand a promising and refined pilot study and assess outcomes, satisfaction and cost effectiveness. Innovation and impact: The proposed project is among the first RCT to combine the two most influential approaches to diabetes control-- self-management education and tailored patient navigation in a community setting. The Community to Clinic Navigation (CCN) intervention has the potential to sustainably empower hard to reach populations with effective self-management education and enhance the quality of healthcare in traditionally underserved communities, greatly improving T2DM outcomes.