The En Balance Spanish diabetes education program improves apolipoproteins, serum glucose and body composition in Hispanic diabetics.

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the changes in apolipoproteins, glycemic status, and body composition after 3 months using a culturally sensitive diabetes education program, En Balance, in diabetic Hispanics.

METHODS

Thirty-four (9 males, 25 females) Hispanic diabetics participated in the En Balance program over three months. Body composition was determined by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), A1c, and apolipoproteins (Apo) measured after 3 months participation. Differences were analyzed using paired t testing and relationships between changes in Apo, A1c, total cholesterol, body mass index and body composition by Spearman correlations.

RESULTS

Completion of En Balance resulted in a significant reduction in weight (80.31 +/- 1.97 kg vs 81.25 +/- 17.97 kg, P = .015), FPG (143.21 +/- 57.8 mg/dL vs 166.41 +/- 65.9 mg/dL P = .003), and A1c (7.08 +/- 1.6% vs 7.87 +/- 2.0%, P = < .001). DXA demonstrated reduction in total fat (29.54 +/- 10.0 kg vs 30.24 +/- 11.80 kg, P = < .001) and trunk fat (15.09 +/- 5.6 kg vs 16.87 +/- 5.4 kg, P = .001). High density lipoprotein significantly increased (48.85 +/- 11.4 vs 44.65 +/- 8.8, P = .002) and total serum cholesterol/high density lipoprotein ratio decreased (3.87 +/- .98 vs 4.35 +/- 1.0, P = .001). There were significant correlations at three months between changes in Apo A1 and A2 (r = .559, P < .001), Apo E and total cholesterol (r = .746, P < .001), between A1c and FPG (r = .563, P = .001) and BMI and body weight (r = .732, P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The En Balance program improved body composition, A1c, FPG, total cholesterol/HDL ratio and HDL. If these trends can be sustained, En Balance may serve as a unique educational paradigm for improving type 2 diabetes in Hispanics.