Telehealth & After-Hours Program Benefits
English-speaking and Spanish-speaking people with Diabetes
HANFORD, CA, August 22, 2024 – Nearly two-thirds of non-English speakers in the U.S. speak Spanish, and this group has higher rates of diabetes. 1 A study by My Diabetes Tutor℠ (MDT), a nationally accredited Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) program, shows that DSMES delivered in a culturally appropriate way, with after-hours availability and telehealth methods, improves clinical and behavioral outcomes while maintaining participant satisfaction.
The MDT study is entitled “Effectively Reducing Health Disparities: The Impact of an All-Spanish DSMES Curriculum.” It compared English- and Spanish-speaking MDT diabetes education program participants, showing a reduction in A1C for both groups: a 1.6-point decrease for high-risk Spanish-speaking participants and a 1.2-point decrease for high-risk English-speaking participants. In addition, healthy eating goals were achieved by 84% of the English group and 57% of the Spanish group. The fully online MDT telehealth program utilizes phones and HIPAA-secured video, while being accessible during and after business hours to accommodate work and family schedules.
The MDT study results, presented recently as a poster at the ADCES 2024 National Conference, reviewed outcomes for the all-Spanish curriculum for A1C and healthy eating goals. It also showed the importance of providing culturally and linguistically appropriate online DSMES interventions to ensure equitable access and effectiveness for all communities needing diabetes education, even those struggling with healthcare literacy or lacking transportation. Given the higher incidence of diabetes among diverse groups and the absence of Spanish-language curriculums for online delivery, MDT’s tailored program addresses this vital gap.
“My Diabetes Tutor was created to remove language and location barriers and provide diabetes education and support in several languages via telehealth,” says Dr. Sahasranam, Founder, CEO, and CMO of MDT. “The program offers individualized patient support as an extension of physician care, which results in better outcomes. Our Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists build relationships with each patient over 10 sessions and personalize the education and support to help individuals with diabetes achieve optimal diabetes management. Our exceptional patient satisfaction scores reflect our educators’ customized approach and ability to improve clinical and behavioral outcomes.”
The study participants gave the MDT program high satisfaction scores (with 5 being the highest): 4.9 average from English-speaking participants and 5.0 average for Spanish.
MDT provides comprehensive, accessible diabetes education through one-on-one education sessions and resources that empower individuals with diabetes to effectively manage their condition and enhance their overall well-being. MDT’s virtual education and support are tailored to individuals with type I and type 2 diabetes and diabetes in pregnancy. MDT’s programs are offered in seven languages, including Spanish. While the MDT program is comprehensive, its services are personalized to the health status and requirements of each person, including education, monitoring, device management, and individual support. MDT’s exceptional participant satisfaction scores bear out the positive impact of the telehealth program.
To learn more about the MDT study, visit https://www.mydiabetestutor.com/
Contact My Diabetes Tutor at info@mydiabetestutor.com or call 844-623-0999.
Download the Press Release here.