African Americans and Latinos on Chicago's Southeast side are getting help in the fight against diabetes. The Midwest Latino Health Research, Training, and Policy Center, part of the Jane Addams College of Social Work at UIC, has been awarded a three-year, $2.4 million federal demonstration grant by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The grant supports a community action plan aimed at reducing disparities in diabetes risks, complications, and associated disabilities among Latinos and African Americans.

"Cultural, environmental, and socioeconomic factors are associated with the high prevalence of type 2 diabetes and its risk factors," said Aida Giachello, associate professor of social work and director of the Midwest Latino Health Research, Training, and Policy Center. "The coalition was formed to change the social norms leading to the risk of developing diabetes and to assure that people living with diabetes receive the necessary quality of care, support, and resources."

A recent UIC community assessment of community groups showed an increased prevalence of type 2 (insulin resistant) diabetes in six Latino and African American Chicago communities. As a result of the study, UIC has partnered with community groups and residents to form the Chicago Southeast Diabetes Community Action Coalition.

Among other activities, the coalition is focusing on information infrastructure development and the creation of three community-based self-care resource centers, which will provide education and referrals, community information campaigns, and the promotion of healthy eating habits.

The coalition is funded under a cooperative agreement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion under its Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH 2010) initiative.