Diabetes Support Group for New Arrivals

This past Spring, the Special Needs Health Program initiated a Diabetes support group in response to an increasing number of newly arrived refugees and asylees diagnosed with diabetes.  The purpose of this support group was to educate the clients about new strategies for managing and coping with the disease, provide tools and resources that would enable them to communicate more effectively with health care providers, and increase their knowledge about the relationship between blood sugar levels and nutrition.  A total of 13 SWRC clients participated in the sessions, including those diagnosed with diabetes and their family members. 

Whole Foods chef gives a healthy cooking demonstration at Whole Foods market in Silver Spring, MD
Photo taken by IRC Health Intern

Led by a health intern, Nadine Hofmeister, the support group met over the course of two months for five, two-hour sessions at the SWRC office.  Session topics included: an overview of pathophysiology of the disease, understanding and following treatment prescribed by the doctor, effective communication skills with providers, the importance of logging and tracking food intake and blood sugar levels, and diabetes-specific nutrition.  Community Interpreters accommodated French, Arabic, Farsi and Burmese speaking clients. 

During two of the sessions, the Special Needs Health Program collaborated with community experts to enhance the participants’ learning experience:  the Whole Foods Market in Silver Spring and the Diabetes Outpatient Educators from the Washington Adventist Hospital Health and Wellness Department.  At the Whole Foods Market, the Head Chef provided a tour of the market and demonstrated how to prepare a delicious, low-fat and low-sugar meal.  For the last session, a nutritionist from the Washington Adventist Hospital evaluated individual cultural recipes that participants submitted and suggested healthy substitutions to help reduce the fat content and limit the sugar and starch intake.   

Participants taking a tour of Whole Foods market, Silver Spring, MD.
Photo taken by IRC Health Intern

Overall, the participants reported that they gained valuable information from the support group sessions about coping methods and strategies for managing their diabetes.  All of the clients expressed interest in participating in further diabetes or nutrition education sessions.