Project Dulce
An Evidence-Based Practice
Description
Project Dulce is diabetes care and education program designed for underserved, low-income, ethnically diverse populations. Through Project Dulce, a nurse-led team including a Certified Diabetes Educator, medical assistant, and dietitian provide clinical care in collaboration with primary care providers. The program also trains peer educators to provide diabetes self-management education and support, as well as an electronic diabetes registry to track patient care, and clinical standards to guide treatment. Project Dulce provides culturally appropriate curriculum, patient handouts in eight different languages, and training for health care providers.
Goal / Mission
The goal of Project Dulce is to improve the lives of people with diabetes through culturally appropriate, community-based diabetes management, education, and support programs.
Results / Accomplishments
Participants in Project Dulce had significant reductions in multiple clinical outcomes between year one and year two when compared to a control group. There were decreases in hemoglobin (Hg) A1c (0.8%; p < 0.001), systolic blood pressure (5.4 mm Hg; p = 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (8.0 mm Hg; p < 0.001), total cholesterol (28.1 mg/dL; p < 0.001), and LDL cholesterol (15.6 mg/dL; p < 0.001). There was also a trend toward reduced hospital expenditures, which while not statistically significant, is both clinically and economically relevant to low-income populations.
About this Promising Practice
Organization(s)
Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute
Primary Contact
Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute
10140 Campus Point Drive, Suite 100
San Diego, CA 92121
1-866-791-8154
http://www.scripps.org/services/diabetes
10140 Campus Point Drive, Suite 100
San Diego, CA 92121
1-866-791-8154
http://www.scripps.org/services/diabetes
Topics
Health / Physical Activity
Organization(s)
Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute
Date of publication
May 2005
Date of implementation
1997
Location
San Diego County, CA
For more details
Target Audience
Adults, Racial/Ethnic Minorities