Indian health center of santa clara valley - special diabetes program for indians - statement of need/ problem statement IHC is requesting $303,773 to fund a vital diabetes management program for…

Indian health center of santa clara valley - special diabetes program for indians - statement of need/ problem statement IHC is requesting $303,773 to fund a vital diabetes management program for our AI/an community. These funds will be used to increase program enrollment and engagement in our AI/an patients participating in annual diabetes retinopathy screening, nutritional education, ABC bundle (A1C, blood pressure, cholesterol), and the improvement of counseling for current tobacco users, as well as the 50 other measures of health included in the IHS diabetes audit and gpra report measures. Retinopathy screening is a critical need and requires additional focus to address the complications of uncontrolled diabetes. Of the 79 current cases of diagnosed diabetics, over 86% are overweight or obese. Many patients are also dual-diagnosed, including mental health challenges such as depression. For example, many patients have experienced historical trauma, which has created barriers preventing them from focusing on diabetes management. Some of these barriers include food and housing insecurity and lack of transportation. We aim to continue learning from and working with patients as partners in their care to address barriers and maintain optimal wellness, so they can successfully manage their diabetes and improve their quality of life. Again, IHC's CWO is the only comprehensive, culturally competent program in the SAN jose area, and over the years, IT has served over 400 people with diabetes. Many have returned to attend refresher courses or to share their experience in the program and become mentors to others who have struggled to manage their disease successfully. This has created a support system among the group and keeps the AI/an community engaged in the program. The continued investment of the sdpi funding is critical to support this vital service for current and future participants of the program. Project summary the indian health center of santa clara valley (IHC) is a nonprofit organization providing high-quality, culturally competent medical and wellness services to american indians/alaska natives (AI/an) for over 45YEARS. IHC is pursuing the FY 2023 special diabetes program for indians (sdpi) community-directed grant to continue our efforts in assisting the AI/an community with diabetes care and services. IHC's community wellness and outreach (CWO) department is a culturally competent, community-driven diabetes management and prevention program designed to meet the diverse needs of the community IT serves. The funding from this grant will be an investment in the health and well-being of the most disenfranchised population in our community, and IT will help to build on an already successful diabetes prevention and management program. These additional services will meet a critical, yet unserved component in their health plan. Best practices include nutrition education which is vital in the self management of diabetes as food affects the blood sugar, body weight, and heart health. IHC medical staff and leadership teams are committed to providing high-quality nutrition education to the AI/an community. Our goal is to improve nutrition education with the following key activities free access to our fitness center and workout class such as piyo and zumba to promote a healthier lifestyle and weight loss. Additionally, we will host two nutrition education events to teach healthy eating habits.