South Bronx Group wins $2 million grant for diabetes self-management education

A major donation to a Bronx nonprofit will double the group’s budget to fight diabetes in the borough.

Health People, a small nonprofit organization focused on chronic disease prevention and management, received a $2 million grant on Tuesday, which was funded by Yield, a foundation led by philanthropist Mackenzie Scott. It’s part of the $640 million in new donations that Giving announced this week.

The group is just one of 361 small nonprofits that applied to receive funding as part of the foundation’s public offering.

The cash infusion doubles the South Bronx-based organization’s annual budget, which was founded in 1990 to help address the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and expands the group’s operations in the South Bronx and its peer education. The proceeds will be used to expand diabetes self-management programs. Citywide .

“As a community group facing the usual funding challenges, we haven’t been able to really develop what we want,” said Health People Executive Director Chris Norwood, who said the $2 million was a surprise. I expressed my gratitude. “We don’t really get any major philanthropic funding.”

Peer support for diabetes People’s blood sugar levels have improved significantly, according to an analysis by the National Institutes of Health.People who receive diabetes education You’re also more likely to exerciseaccording to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, check your blood sugar levels and visit your health care professional.

According to the CDC, diabetes is a chronic, long-term health condition that reduces insulin production, increases blood sugar levels, and contributes to other serious problems such as heart disease, kidney disease, and vision loss. .the Although treatment is very expensive, A 2022 study published in the journal Diabetes Care found that people with diabetes collect an average of $12,022 a year in medical costs related to the disease.

Approximately 17.5% of Bronx residents have diabetes; highest rate In the city, according to Montefiore’s 2019 report. Eight of the 10 neighborhoods with the highest infection rates are in the same borough, with five in Morrisania/Crotona, Belmont/East Tremont, Mott Haven/Melrose, and Hunts Point/Longwood (all in the South Bronx). More than one person in every month suffers from this disease. .

“Everything has improved”

Evelyn Rivas, 66, is one Bronxite who has already benefited from peer education and is now one of about 20 peer educators at Health People. The group consulted Rivas after he was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2014. Her doctor measured her A1C (blood sugar level) at about 10.7, well above her healthy level of 5.7 or lower. The higher the number, the higher the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. Patients with blood sugar levels up to 6.4 are considered prediabetic.

March 20, 2024 Health People employee Evelyn Rivas helps train Bronsight patients in diabetes management. credit: Ben Frachtenberg/The City

Rivas attended the group’s four-day training and learned how to adopt a balanced diet, read nutrition labels, and incorporate more exercise into her daily life. She then attended her three-week course at Health Her Works and learned how to share the information she has incorporated into her own life as an educator with others.

Educators conduct workshops, trainings, and work one-on-one with others living with diabetes. They work 10 to 20 hours a week and earn about $18 an hour, Norwood said.

“They’re taught so many facts about diabetes. And they’re taught things to teach others. For example, it’s important to have people read all labels when they buy something. It’s one of those things,” Norwood said. “They are taught presentation skills and facilitation skills.”

“The core of this initiative is that each week we ask people to create what we call their own action plan. And it’s based on what they decide they can do for themselves.” , she added, noting that many people have tried various diets and failed. She said, “We want people to feel very comfortable and go at their own pace.”

After four days of training, Rivas’ habits changed dramatically. She increased her rest, water intake, and cooking with healthy ingredients. She eliminated junk food like McDonald’s, cut out rice, and set limits on cravings like ice cream.

“When I wasn’t that far away, I always took a taxi to work,” Rivas told THE CITY, adding that his habits changed after training. “It’s better to walk,” she said. “I learned how to read labels. I don’t drink soda or orange juice anymore.”

Three months after the visit where her blood sugar levels prompted her to take action, she returned to see her doctor and found that her A1C level had dropped to 7.1. Three months later, it had dropped to 6.4.

“Everything is better,” Rivas told The City over the phone. “I was in a better place. I had more confidence.”

Norwood said Health People has not yet considered how many educators it could add to the existing 22 with this grant, ideally as part of a more inclusive community. He said he hopes the group will be able to establish a brick-and-mortar training institute. South Bronx Wellness Center.

“Our goal is to establish a training institute to train our colleagues,” she said, “and to collaborate with other community groups and safety net hospitals to provide knowledge.” “What we really want to do is create a true community wellness center to truly build community-wide health.”

She added that the group, located in the Mott Haven neighborhood of the Bronx, is also targeting programs at homeless shelters, working with children’s and other safety-net hospitals.

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