Research Profile

This project primarily relates to diabetes health services research with a focus on socio-behavioral aspects of diabetes care. The research explores interventions to address gaps in diabetes care at the intersection of social science, social determinants of health, and access to healthcare for vulnerable populations. This project provides opportunities for persons who experience homelessness to better manage their diabetes through behavioral supports that are provided by text messaging via cell phones. The findings from this study, if proven, will pave the way for more effective treatment of diabetes and better prevention of consequences of inadequately managed diabetes among marginalized populations.

General strategies for diabetes education and support to change behaviors and improve medication taking have improved diabetes management among many patients. However, these strategies may not easily be accessible to everyone, especially people who struggle with a lot of social barriers. Most people have access to cell phones and text messaging. This project, in a community-based approach, provides diabetes support through text messaging to improve recommended diabetes self-care activities, medication taking, and attendance to medical appointments. The proposed study will make a valuable contribution to integrate effective text messaging strategies into the healthcare of persons with diabetes, making it possible to manage diabetes and reduce related death and disabilities. The learning from this project will also be useful in the management of other chronic diseases.

Diabetes is a chronic condition that causes significant death and disability for patients and enormously burdens the healthcare system. It contributes to many other serious health conditions including but not limited to cardiovascular diseases, kidney diseases, eye problems, and infections. As a clinician researcher I have witnessed the negative impact of inadequately managed diabetes among many of my own patients especially the ones from low socioeconomic background. There is a lack of evidence and data on best strategies to address diabetes management among underserved populations. I have extensive work experience with underserved populations including persons who experience homelessness. Therefore, I am well-positioned to use my experience to develop and evaluate strategies to address gaps in access to diabetes care among these populations. This award will help me evaluate innovative strategies to improve care for this very vulnerable population not only for diabetes but also other chronic conditions. It will provide me with the support needed to take my research to the next level and develop more effective interventions to address health disparities, domestically and internationally.

Increasingly there has been a recognition of the enormous human and financial cost of diabetes, nationally and globally. There are many areas to explore in diabetes care including genetics, individual and environmental factors, prevention strategies, treatment modalities, and health services and implementation research. I am optimistic that all these areas of diabetes research will not only expand but also inter-relate for synergy to address diabetes in a spectrum of care. In a shorter term, I’d imagine research focus will be on primary and secondary prevention strategies and assuring access to already established and evidence-based approaches in treating diabetes and averting its consequences.