Successful treatment for Type 2 diabetes requires a multi-dimensional approach, including exercise. Research has demonstrated that exercise improves glycemic control, reduces weight, contributes to a healthier lipid profile, and improves psychological well-being. Unfortunately, exercise is an underutilized treatment modality for Type 2 diabetes, especially in minority populations, potentially related to the lack of a culturally sensitive program to promote this aspect of treatment. Hypotheses formulated for this research project were: 1. The activity level of Latino individuals with Type 2 diabetes will increase with the intervention of a structured, culturally sensitive exercise program. 2. A structured, culturally sensitive exercise program will improve the overall physiological and psychological outcomes of Latino Type 2 diabetics. A quasi-experimental design was used to investigate the effect of a culturally-specific exercise program on physiological and psychological factors related to Type 2 diabetes. Psychological well-being of the participants was measured at the beginning and completion of the exercise program using the Well-being Questionnaire (Bradley, 1994). Physiological measurements included glucose, HbA1c, lipid levels, and BMI. A convenience sample of 14 men and women, over 18 years of age, who had been diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, and received health care at a community health clinic for low-income, independent-living community residents was recruited to participate in the exercise program. Many of the clients spoke Spanish as their primary language. Each session met weekly for a 6 and 12 week period. At the completion of this research pilot project, descriptive statistics will be utilized to analyze participant demographic data. Pre-exercise and post-exercise measures of glucose, HbA1c, lipid levels, BMI and psychological well-being will be analyzed using multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). This project represents an opportunity for nursing to implement an approach to promote the health and well-being of a high-risk population.
Session #1222 - Undergraduate Submissions
The 29th Annual MNRS Research Conference (April 1-4, 2005)