Outcomes of project dulce: A culturally specific diabetes management program

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is a common and costly chronic disease that increasingly affects minority populations; however, there is little evidence regarding the clinical effectiveness and costs of culturally appropriate disease management programs. OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical outcomes and costs of Project Dulce, a combined stepped-care diabetes nurse case management program and culturally oriented peer-led self-empowerment training program. METHODS: Pre-post clinical outcome and cost analysis of Project Dulce participants were compared with a cohort of historical controls over a one-year period. Subjects included 348 persons with diabetes with coverage under County Medical Services who were receiving services in community health centers in San Diego, CA. Generalized regression models were used to estimate changes in clinical outcomes (hemoglobin [Hb] A(1c), blood pressure, cholesterol level) and costs associated with participation in Project Dulce. RESULTS: Project Dulce participants had significant reductions in HbA(1c), (0.8%; p < 0.001), systolic (5.4 mm Hg; p = 0.001) and diastolic (8.0 mm Hg; p < 0.001) blood pressure, total cholesterol (28.1 mg/dL; p < 0.001), and low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (15.6 mg/dL; p < 0.001). Expenditures for pharmacy ($3157 Dulce vs $1618 control) and disease management ($507 Dulce) increased. Total costs were higher during the first year of disease management ($5711 Dulce vs $4365 control; p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Project Dulce was effective in improving clinical outcomes for control of diabetes and related conditions in a medically indigent, culturally diverse population. Our finding of reduced hospital expenditures, although statistically insignificant, is clinically and economically important and suggests that intervention might provide an immediate benefit to a high-risk population.