A community-based approach for the self-management of diabetes

The ability to self-manage one’s diabetes is challenged by the limited availability of clinic-based resources. This paper seeks to describe and determine the impact of Diabetes Hamilton (DH), a novel, voluntary, community-based programmein Hamilton, Ontario, that aims to facilitate self-management behaviours by supplementing existing resources.DH registrants who completed a baseline questionnaire from February 2000 to March 2007 were included in the cross-sectional survey (n=3161). A total of 2994 individuals were also included in the trend analysis, examining the impact of DH on self-management behaviours.Half ofDH registrants are female (51.2%), with a mean BMI of 30.8 (SD 7.5), a mean age of 61.6 years (SD 14.6) and a mean age of 48.6 years at diagnosis (SD 16.7). A third of registrants reported insulin use (33.4%) and >90% reportedhaving had an annual blood pressure and cholesterol test respectively. Trend analysis of behaviours showed an increase in cholesterol screening (p<0.00), diabetes provider visits (p<0.00), and medication use for glycaemic control and vascular protection (p<0.02).Although DH reaches motivated, well-educated individuals in the community, some diabetes self-management behavioursimproved. Strategies to engage greater public participation across various demographics (e.g. ethnicity, education, age) are ongoing.