Public Health Challenge
In the United States, Hispanic adults were found to have a 22.6% prevalence of diabetes which is twice the prevalence of non-Hispanic White adults (11.3%). Hispanic adults were found to have a 10.1% prevalence of undiagnosed diabetes which is more than twice the amount of undiagnosed diabetes among non-Hispanic White adults (3.8%). According to the American Diabetes Association people living with diabetes are at a higher risk of developing covid-19-related complications. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has delayed treatment and diagnosis of diabetes, with some studies finding that there has been a 49% decrease in Type II diabetes diagnoses during the pandemic. Diabetes prevention programs (DPP) work to teach participants that are at risk for pre-diabetes how to change their behavior, eating habits, and physical activity to live healthier lives. Because the COVID-19 pandemic has limited in-person events, the National Diabetes Prevention Program recommended pausing in-person diabetes prevention program classes and using alternative options.
Solution
To address the decrease in diagnoses and disparity in unknown diabetes diagnoses, Penn State REACH partnered with Latino Connection, Highmark Health, and Georgio Mushroom Farms to offer pre-diabetes screenings at COVID-19 vaccination clinics. This vaccination event was for Georgio Mushroom Farm employees and their families in Lebanon County. Most of the employees and their families are migrant or seasonal workers. We used the American Diabetes Association Diabetes Risk Test to screen persons during their 15-minute monitoring time after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine.
The COVID-19 pandemic restricted access to in-person meetings and classes. REACH helped convert and hold the diabetes prevention program classes to a virtual platform and in Spanish to abide by the COVID-19 safety guidelines and better serve Spanish speakers at health centers in Lebanon and Berks County.
“I screened a 19-year-old kid, and he scored 7 points out of 7 points. He was illiterate and did not really understand what diabetes was, and it broke my heart. He did not go to school because he had to provide for his family and help his dad as a young kid. He did not understand how sick he could become from diabetes and that that he could prevent this. People are dying not only from a lack of access to health care but from a lack of health literacy.”
– Madeline Bermudez, Community Health Worker, Penn State REACH
“Several of the people we screened had health insurance, but their health insurance did not cover prevention programming, and it was really expensive for them to go. They work so hard and still cannot afford prevention programming, so it is really important to provide them with free preventive programs such as DPP.”
– Madeline Bermudez, Community Health Worker, Penn State REACH
By partnering with Latino Connection, we were able to screen 63 people and refer 18 people to a DPP. In the past year we have been able to provide support to and refer 35 people to Penn State St. Joseph’s DPP and 121 people to Lebanon Family Health Services for free DPP. By holding virtual DPP classes, 47 people enrolled in the classes offered at these health centers.
Sustainable Success
Penn State REACH will continue to support and offer virtual, bilingual DPP for persons in Lebanon and Berks County at local and community-centered health centers.
To promote awareness of pre-diabetes and its prevention, the Penn State REACH team will continue to offer pre-diabetes screenings at current COVID-19 and upcoming Influenza mobile vaccination clinics and refer individuals to DPP in their counties.
Contact person
Andrea Murray
Email: amurray3@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
Phone: (717) 319-6737
Laurie Crawford
Email: lcrawford4@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
Written by Evelyn Marin
Edited by Laurie Crawford