With Type 2 diabetes on the rise, prevention measures are critical. But it’s often hard for people living in rural areas to access health care and lifestyle resources that can improve their health.
Involving local leaders and churches could make all the difference in these communities, according to a recent study from the UGA College of Pharmacy.
Working with the UGA Archway Partnership, researchers and community members implemented the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Diabetes Prevention Program across rural Georgia.
The program is designed to help people develop healthy habits that can prevent the onset of Type 2 diabetes. However, the program has limited reach in rural areas.
“In having conversations with our community partners, we realized that there might be an opportunity to address diabetes in rural areas,” said Henry Young, co-author of the study and a professor and head of the department of Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy in UGA’s College of Pharmacy. “The community was very involved, very engaged and very excited to participate.”
This initiative could pave the way for more programs focused on improving health in underserved communities.