Diabetes Self-Management Program

			Interested in this Study? If you live in the counties of San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, or Alameda, in Northern California: call 1-800-366-2624 We do not offer the program in any other area at this time.

The Diabetes Self-Management Study will evaluate a Diabetes Self-Management workshop given 2½ hours once a week for six weeks, in community settings such as churches, community centers, libraries and hospitals in Alameda, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Santa Clara counties of Northern California ONLY.

People with type 2 diabetes attend the program in groups of 12-16. Workshops are facilitated from a highly detailed manual by two trained leaders, one or both of whom are peer leaders with diabetes themselves. Anyone who is 18 years or older, living in the study area, and has type 2 diabetes can participate. Participants may also bring a family member or friend. Participants will fill out a questionnaire and provide height, weight, and a hemoglobin A1c blood test at a community site 3 times over an 18 month period.

The Stanford Patient Education Research Center has received a grant from the California HealthCare Foundation for the randomized, controlled study. The principal investigator is Kate Lorig and the project manager is Frank Villa.

Subjects covered include: 1) techniques to deal with the symptoms of diabetes, fatigue, pain, hyper/hypoglycemia, stress, and emotional problems such as depression, anger, fear and frustration; 2) appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength and endurance; 3) healthy eating 4) appropriate use of medication; and 5) working more effectively with health care providers. Participants will make weekly action plans, share experiences, and help each other solve problems they encounter in creating and carrying out their self-management program. Physicians and other health professionals both at Stanford and in the community have reviewed all materials in the course.

Each participant in the workshop receives a copy of the companion book, Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions, and an audio relaxation tape, and an audio exercise tape.*

It is the process in which the program is taught that makes it effective. Classes are highly participative, where mutual support and success build the participants’ confidence in their ability to manage their health and maintain active and fulfilling lives.

Does the Program replace existing programs and treatments?

The program will not conflict with existing programs or treatment. The physicians of participants will be informed of their participation in the study and receive metabolic test results of their patients. Participants will be given copies of their metabolic tests. In all cases, we will urge participants to continue their current programs. We will not alter treatment. For medical questions, participants will be referred to their physicians. If the content of the course conflicts with instructions they receive elsewhere, we will advise participants to follow their physicians' orders and discuss discrepancies with the physician.

When will the Program be available outside of the San Francisco area?

If the research shows that the Program is successful, we will offer training to health care organizations at that time.

*Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions by Lorig, Sobel, Laurent, González and Minor (2006), as well as the audio CDs/tapes can be ordered from Bull Publishing.