Diabetes Q&A

AADE Releases New Guidance for Cultural, Health Literacy Considerations

The American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) has issued guidance on cultural and health literacy considerations with diabetes.

The new guidance is geared towards the recognition that diabetes care must be individualized, and that how each patient obtains, processes, and utilizes information is affected heavily by health literacy skills, numeracy skills, prior life experiences, and support networks, all of which are shaped by a patient’s cultural background.

In their paper, AADE emphasizes the importance of health literacy, cultural competency, sensitivity, and humility. Important points noted in the guidance related to improving health literacy include:

  • Present the most important points first.
  • Keep sentences short.
  • In printed documents, use headings and bullets to help break up text and make it less imposing.
  • Incorporate images to help clarify meaning for patients with limited reading skills.
  • Aim to communicate with patients in a manner that is culturally appropriate and demonstrates respect for the racial, ethnic, and generational differences that may affect how patients interpret health information, including engaging the services of an interpreter for patients with very limited English skills.


AADE also notes the importance of using diabetes sensitive language with patients, meaning that language is neutral, non-judgmental and based on facts, actions, or physiology/biology; free from stigma; is strengths-based, respectful, inclusive, and imparting hope; fosters collaboration between patients and providers; and is person-centered.

The statement names various practical resources to which the diabetes care and education specialist and the greater diabetes care team may refer to improve health literacy, numeracy, and cultural competency, including information from the Vanderbilt University Center for Diabetes Translation Research, The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and more.

To read the full guidance statement, click here.

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

AADE Professional Practice Committee. Cultural and health literacy considerations with diabetes. 2019. https://www.diabeteseducator.org/docs/default-source/practice/educator-tools/cultural-and-health-literacy-considerations-with-diabetes.pdf?sfvrsn=2. Accessed October 17, 2019.