Active Steps for Diabetes- A Collaborative Approach to Diabetes Self-Management

Presenter:Dawn Hall-Bibb – Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Bellarmine University, Julie Hartmann – Doctor of Physical Therapy Program, Bellarmine University

Since 2007, Park Duvalle Community Health Center and the Bellarmine University Doctor of Physical Therapy program have been in partnership via Active Steps for Diabetes, a service-learning component in the Physical Therapy curriculum.  Active Steps for Diabetes is an interprofessional health promotion program where Bellarmine’s Nursing, Medical Laboratory Sciences, Nutrition and Physical Therapy students and faculty work together with Park DuValle staff to provide care and education regarding self-management of diabetes. The efforts of this partnership have led to improvement in diabetic self-care and outcomes for participants such as weight loss , reduction in medications, increase physical activity, and self-advocacy.