baylor scott & white health
Health Care Reimagined
diabetes prevention : a family affair
A family history of diabetes is a risk factor for the disease , a fact not lost on Adriana Maldonado . Because her mother had type 2 diabetes and other family members had prediabetes , when she heard about Por tu Familia she jumped at the chance to participate . She also recruited several members of her family to join her .
Por tu Familia , an American Diabetes Association ( ADA ) program tailored to Latinos , focuses on people at risk for type 2 diabetes as well as those who have the disease . In collaboration with the ADA and local organizations , Baylor Scott & White Health offers the program in Williamson , Bell and McLennan counties . The name Por tu Familia — “ for your family ” in English — and the curriculum emphasize that adopting healthy behaviors benefits the family as well as the individual .
Diabetes is an urgent health problem in the Latino community . Rates of diabetes are almost double those of non-Latino whites . According to Tara Stafford , Baylor Scott & White Central Texas director of community benefit , “ From a community assessment , we knew that health education on prevention and management of chronic diseases such as diabetes , specifically provided in Spanish , is something the community was lacking .”
Por tu Familia classes are free . They include a cooking class on healthy meals called “ Health & Flavor in the Latino Kitchen ” and an exercise class energized with Latin music . Messages about diabetes are shared between songs .
Said Adriana , “( Por tu Familia ) was a big blessing to the whole family . It was spectacular . I mainly did it for my family , at first . But it ended up being great for all of us . My oldest daughter especially liked the classes . We all eat more healthy . And now I am way more physically active with my family .”
“ Food portions were the biggest thing for us . The classes taught me the right serving portions . I cook for the whole family , so they ’ re all getting the right portions , too .”
— Adriana Maldonado
Adriana Maldonado is happy that her family can make healthy changes together . She hopes to set an example for her children , including her youngest daughter , Yazmin , to help them grow up strong and healthy .
14