Nuestra Vida

About the Program

Category: Health (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

Nuestra Vida was implemented in February 2013 in Doña Ana County, New Mexico as a public/private partnership between the Doña Ana County Health and Human Service Department and Memorial Medical Center, the local hospital. The research focus was to determine if blending traditional diabetes clinical education with promotoras (community health workers) in a community-setting is effective in improving self-management, and reducing diabetes-related hospital admissions. A total of 50 participants completed the first year of the study, and over 70 more participated in monthly activities throughout the year. This program has affected over 120 residents in two communities. The goals are to improve self-managed care behaviors for adults and families with diabetes, improve preventative behaviors for people with pre-diabetes, and improve community consciousness to support individual and family health lifestyles. Three main components of the program include 1) group activities, 2) traditional diabetes classes, and 3) lab work and physician feedback. Of 43 study participants that attended the first and the final lab, 84% decreased A1c level, 83% decreased cholesterol level, 54% lost weight, 65% decreased systolic blood pressure, and 51% decreased diastolic blood pressure. Additional measures such as increase in knowledge and primary care visits will be analyzed as well.