Advancing Health Equity in Diabetes Prevention for Individuals With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Lifestyle interventions and health promotion programs are widely implemented to improve dietary behaviors, physical activity, and other health outcomes associated with diabetes prevention and management. While standard initiatives are effective for the general population, the impact and reach of these interventions remains limited for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Higher rates of diabetes, lower levels of physical activity, and poorer dietary outcomes highlight the limitations of standard approaches that may not adequately account for the distinct cognitive, behavioral, social, and environmental contexts of adults with IDD. Tailoring lifestyle interventions to the unique needs of these adults offers a promising framework to promote equitable disease prevention for a population historically overlooked in mainstream health promotion initiatives. In this commentary, we discuss how adaptations to diabetes prevention approaches, including tailored communication strategies, community-based care, and caregiver involvement, may improve the accessibility, personalization, and sustainability of health programs for adults with IDD. We also address practical challenges with scaling individualized interventions and propose collaborative models across health care, research, and communities to reduce health disparities and support successful program implementation.