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.
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