MSUCOM Student Volunteers and FCM Division of Research Team Up on Diabetes

February 14, 2003

By Letitia V. Fowler, M.A.

EAST LANSING- Some MSUCOM students have partnered with the Division of Research in the Family and Community Medicine Department to educate the Greater Lansing Community about Diabetes.

The project, "Teaching Future Physicians to Manage and Provide Patient Education for Type II Diabetes Patients" is a collaborative effort with second year osteopathic medical students, the department's preceptorship program, family medicine clinicians and the division of research in FCM. The project focuses on improving the efforts to better train future osteopathic physicians of MSUCOM in the management of diabetes.

The project, which is funded by the Michigan Department of Community Health with matching funds form the Department of Family and Community Medicine, began over Thanksgiving last year with phase one -- a health fair at the Advent House homeless shelter in Lansing. Students, who were trained for the project, interviewed, tested and provided a physical exam for diabetes screening to those who attended the "Health Fair for Thanksgiving" at the Advent House hosted by the Greater Lansing African American Health Institute (GLAAHI).

The second phase of the project to begin this semester, will pilot the education of the project participants in three preceptors offices. Those participating preceptors will assign the students at least one diabetic patient from their practice for phase II of this project. The students will conduct an initial patient assessment using a faculty developed clinical protocol for diabetes care. Students will also share with the patients pertinent healthy lifestyle and nutritional applications for their own self-management.

Training for this program was provided by MSUCOM faculty members who presented information on lifestyle issues that complicate the management of diabetes, especially for medically underserved and under-and non-insured populations. The training seminars taught students how to effectively deliver patient education on type II diabetes.

The project dollars awarded for phase I and II, totaled over $500,000 from the State of Michigan, Department of Community Health, including matching funds from the Department of Family and Community Medicine.