Exercise for low-income patients with diabetes: a continuous quality improvement project

The specific aim of this project was to form a partnership between a community health center (CHC) to improve access to exercise for low-income patients with type 2 diabetes.

Eligible participants were members of the Siouxland Community Health Center (SCHC), 19 years of age or older, with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Patients were medically waived and received an invitation to exercise at the Siouxland YMCA. An exercise coach (pharmacist, registered nurse, or medical assistant) met with each patient and scheduled and conducted exercise visits for participating patients 2 times each week. Patients' baseline clinical variables were taken and assessed quarterly over a 12-month period.

This collaboration established an ongoing exercise program with a total of 1297 exercise encounters in a 12-month period. Forty-eight of 130 eligible patients (36.9%) visited the YMCA on at least 1 occasion. Patients were categorized as experimental (56.3%), involved (25%), and regular (18.8%) exercisers. Nine (18.8%) of the 48 patients attended supplementary YMCA exercise encounters. Five (11%) of the 48 patients renewed and purchased a membership at the YMCA and adopted a self-management approach to regular exercise.

The creation of a partnership between a community health center and an exercise organization permitted disadvantaged patients with diabetes an affordable exercise program and contributed to improved clinical measurements. The exercise program can be used as a model for other community health centers and health professionals who desire to improve the implementation of an exercise program for patients with diabetes.