Jagjiwan (Jina) Kaur Dhatt, DNP, MPH, MSN-FNP, RN

Abstract:

Background: The rise of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in primary care among minority populations has led to creative ways of addressing nutritional education interventions when dealing with poor adherence, such as utilizing the recommendations of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) plate method. Purpose: To evaluate the plate method tool as a portion-controlled dietary balance to help control glycemic control and encourage weight loss by focusing on patient-centered care through cultural sensitivity in the Hispanic population.Methods: Participants were recruited from a primary care clinic in the San Joaquin Valley. The study will be randomized at the clinic, using a pre- and post-test design, between February and July 2025, among Hispanic patients with T2DM living in the San Joaquin Valley, California. Twenty participants will be randomly selected for this project. This group will receive culturally sensitive support to address language barriers and low literacy through colorful placemats based on ADA guidelines, visual cues, plate method tools, formal health education, and follow-up. Patients will complete pre- and post-intervention tests. The primary outcomes are HbA1C and weight.Results: A total of 20 participants completed the study. The educational nutritional intervention significantly lowered A1C levels in all patients. The paired t-test (before vs. after interventions) resulted in t = 17.586, p < 0.001, indicating a significant reduction in A1C. ANOVA analysis of the percentage change across groups showed F = 4.323, p = 0.030, indicating significant differences between the groups. Participants gained knowledge of diabetes nutritional guidelines through the plate method tool, which enhanced their self-care and adherence to diabetic management. There was a 50% increase in average responses of feedback by participants post-intervention with a Paired t-Test: t = -15.00, p < 0.0001, indicating significant improvement.Conclusion: Previous studies have shown that the ADA plate method is an effective tool for adhering to nutritional intervention, achieving glycemic and weight control. Specifically, this quality improvement project aims to enhance education among patients with limited resources for addressing cultural sensitivity and health literacy, particularly among Hispanic Adults with T2DM in the primary setting.

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