James Reaves, 73, learned in the 1970s that he is diabetic.
The retired postal worker first turned to medication to control the disease that afflicts 25 percent of African-Americans between the ages of 65 and 74.
Reaves, a self-described "exercise freak" -- he has an exercise bike and universal weight machine posted on his front porch -- later turned to eating healthier and an intense regimen of physical activity to help control his diabetes instead of medication.
"I like exercise," said Reaves. "I haven't taken any medication in 12 years."
Still, Reaves admits that he sometimes falls off the wagon when it comes to his diet. He has a sweet tooth. A weakness for blueberry muffins, he says.
"I love sweets," Reaves chuckled. "That's my biggest weakness."
So when the chance came along in 2005 for Reaves to join a pilot program at Duke University designed to help improve the health of blacks who suffer from type 2 diabetes, he gladly accepted the invitation.
"I knew a lot of what to do, but I lost focus and needed some one to be accountable to," Reaves said.
The Diabetes Improvement Project, or DIP, of which Reaves was a part, is the first initiative of Durham's African American Health Improvement Partnership, or AAHIP. It was created in 2005 with a grant from the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, to Duke's Division of Community Health in partnership with the Community Health Coalition.
The program involved more than a dozen African-American churches, which set up support groups for members with Type 2 diabetes. Participants also received counseling and information from health care professionals, nutritionists and others.
Now, after a successful pilot, during which researchers saw a 40 percent average reduction in blood sugar levels in participants, Duke and its partners are working to start the second phase of the program, which will run through 2013, to include not only churches but other social organizations in which African-Americans involve themselves.
The belief is that institutions and civic and social organizations carry enough influence to make profound and lasting changes in the lives of their members.
"Our approach through all of this has been, both for recruitment and for helping people to learn to better manage their diabetes, that we want to build on existing social networks, and we found that to be our more successful approach," said Mina Silberberg, the project's co-principal investigator
The partnership is now armed with a $2.8 million grant from the NIH and has begun to recruit new participants for DIP, as well as new host sites and ambassadors to serve as facilitators for the support groups.
"We're expanding from just churches, we want to get into workplaces, universities, any type of organization that's interested in holding or supporting a support group," said Michael Scott, health education specialist within the Division of Community Health in Duke's Department of Community and Family Medicine.
It was an ambassador at Union Baptist Church, where Reaves attends church, who convinced him to join a support group. Even though the pilot program has ended, Reaves said the group still meets once a month.
"That's very important because we talk about different things and managing our diabetes," Reaves said.
Wanda Boone, a member of the AAHIP's community advisory board, isn't diabetic, but has benefited from the knowledge she's gained through her work on the board.
"Personally, from being a part of the committee, I've lowered my blood pressure and lost weight." Boone said. "It's really been helpful for me."
Boone, chief executive officer of Durham Together for Resilient Youth (Durham TRY), an organization that seeks to help at-risk youth and their families, said the DIP program is a model for community engagement.
"I think this is probably the best effort that I have seen in terms of community engagement and community-involved research," Boone said. "With this collaborative effort, it really is a unique opportunity for the community to be engaged. There really is a full sharing and disclosure of information."
Even after three decades of successfully managing his diabetes, Reaves says the education he's received as part of the pilot program has been invaluable. He said he would encourage anyone with type 2 diabetes to either start a support group or join an existing one.
"It's a win-win," Reaves said. "You don't have anything to lose. You have everything to gain."
The Diabetes Improvement Project is seeking churches, work sites or community organizations that are willing to let DIP representatives speak to members of their congregations, employees or members about the project.
To qualify for DIP, you must be African-American, 18 or older and diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. You must live, work, attend church or participate in a community group in Durham. For more information, call Michael Scott at 919.613.6313. To see more of The Herald-Sun, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.herald-sun.com. Copyright (c) 2009, The Herald-Sun, Durham, N.C. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Copyright (C) 2009, The Herald-Sun, Durham, N.C.