2753-LB: Enhancing Diabetes Self-Management through Educational Sessions with Onsite HbA1c Testing and Healthy Food Demonstrations

Introduction and Objective: Creating and providing diabetes self-management education is essential for improving glycemic control and empowering individuals to take control of their life through lifestyle changes. The project aims to evaluate the impact of diabetes education on patient engagement and self-management behaviors. In addition to structured instruction, the course incorporates onsite HbA1c testing, healthy foods that participants could try and prepare at home, and recipe cards designed to reinforce practical dietary skills. Participants in the in-patient setting that were not able to join received a1:1 education session. Methods: Participants were offered monthly educational sessions in English or Spanish which included the HbA1c testing and a healthy food demonstration and tasting (e.g., lentil soup, cauliflower ceviche). The recipe cards provided were culturally appropriate. The educational sessions included information on the basics of diabetes, medications, complications, and nutrition. Pre- and Post-session surveys were obtained that assessed changes in diabetes knowledge, and confidence in self management. Those receiving the 1:1 educational sessions also completed the Pre- and Post-session survey. Results: Using the Wilcoxon signed-rank tests on the forty-one matched pre- and post-session survey pairs, all four survey items showed statistical significant improvement with large effect sizes (r=.51-.92). Findings demonstrated improvements in patients' understanding and confidence in the management of diabetes. Participants reported high satisfaction with the classes, and many returned to complete the two-part series. Conclusion: Providing flexible educational formats that integrate practical nutritional guidance can enhance patient engagement and support effective self-management behaviors. Both individualized and group-based approaches appear to be effective and well-received, suggesting that there is value in maintaining multiple educational pathways to meet the diverse patient needs. Disclosure E. Ortega: None. E.R. Rosario: None. G. Castillo: None. D. Barajas: None.