Diabetes self-management among Arab Americans: patient and provider perspectives

Abstract

Approximately 90-95 % of the everyday management of diabetes is under the control of the patient [1]. Nonetheless, providers play a primary role in fostering DSM vis-à-vis partnering with patients to develop reasonable DSM approaches and recommending relevant programs and services [2, 3]. Optimizing diabetes outcomes, therefore, entails providers and patients working together on DSM from a position of mutual understanding and shared decision-making. Culture inherently influences these processes and subsequently, the ability to work in partnership toward optimal diabetes-related goals. Moreover, the impact of culture may be especially significant among populations such as Arab Americans, who hold unique health beliefs and behaviors that differ significantly from the cultural norms of the general US population [4-6].