Together Overcoming Diabetes

Together Overcoming Diabetes (TOD) is a culturally tailored, family-based type 2 diabetes management and preventive intervention. The program activates family and cultural practices that encourage healthy diets and physical activities, promotes coping skills for dealing with stress, and reconnects families via a home-based intervention taught by American Indian (AI) paraprofessional Family Health Coaches.

Evaluation of TOD for this trial will happen via Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR). The study team will enroll "target" adult caregivers diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and their youth, ages 10-16 years at enrollment, with the goal of tapping motivational reciprocity between the two generations. The work involves collaboration with five Ojibwe tribal communities in the midwestern U.S. to implement a randomized controlled study with a wait-list design respectful of cultural norms of inclusion.

The study will evaluate effectiveness of the intervention on adult physiological (primary outcome = HbA1c), behavioral, and mental health and children's psychosocial, familial, behavioral and physiological risk and protective factors for diabetes. The research will also identify stress-coping mechanisms that mediate the impact of the intervention on health. A novel collaborative, qualitative evaluation technique will map potential "ripple effects" of the intervention within families and communities. If effective, the intervention will promote dissemination and scaling with tribal health coaches, community involvement, and stakeholder (health providers, health and human service agencies) input.

Inclusion criteria

ADULT (target participants)

• Are greater than 18 years of age
• Self-identify as American Indian
• Have a completed verification form from a healthcare provider indicating a confirmed diagnosis of type 2 diabetes
• Live on or within 30 miles of participating reservations
• Are a caregiver to a 10-16 year-old who lives in their home
• Are willing to be randomly put into Group A (intervention) or Group B (waitlist control)
• Are willing to complete all lessons and assessments
• Speak and read English
• Are not cognitively or visually impaired (able to review and sign informed consent and complete assessments)

YOUTH

• 10 -16 years of age
• Self-identify as American Indian
• Live with an adult who has joined the study
• Are willing to be randomly put into Group A or Group B
• Are willing to complete all lessons and assessments
• Speak and read English
• Are not cognitively or visually impaired (able to review and sign informed consent and complete assessments)

Exclusion criteria

ADULTS (target participants)

• Are not American Indian
• No confirmed type 2 diabetes diagnosis
• Not a caregiver to a youth ages 10-16 in their home
• Does not live within the distance inclusion criteria
• Is unable to complete the study procedures
• Has comorbidity(ies) that may have an impact on type 2 diabetes management

YOUTH

• Are not American Indian
• Do not fall within the specified age range of 10-16 years at time of enrollment
• Do not have an enrolled Adult caregiver
• Unable to read and speak English
• Not willing to complete the study procedures