Salud Paso por Paso: Walking the Talk in Diabetes Care
This pilot study tested a 6-week culturally tailored physical activity program for Hispanic adults with type 2 diabetes. Participants significantly increased their weekly activity levels and step counts, showing the program's strong feasibility and potential impact.
DISEASE PREVENTIONDIABETESPHYSICAL ACTIVITY
8/2/20251 min read
Why It Matters
Type 2 diabetes affects over 38 million U.S. adults, with Hispanic communities disproportionately burdened. Movement is medicine—but cultural relevance can be the missing piece in translating good intentions into real outcomes. That's exactly what this pilot intervention set out to do.
The Intervention: Salud Paso por Paso
Over 6 weeks, participants from a community free clinic took part in culturally and linguistically tailored sessions—including walking programs, motivational discussions, pedometers, and Spanish‑language materials simplified to a fifth‑grade reading level diabetes.jmir.org+3diabetes.jmir.org+3PubMed+3.
Real Results: Powerful Gains in Physical Activity
Among the 21 recruited, 19 (90.5 %) completed the program. Here’s how physical activity changed:
Moderate‑intensity PA per week jumped by 3.16 hours: from 4.73 h (SD 3.79) to 9.63 h (SD 6.39); Z = –3.52, P < .001
Steps per week rose from ~23,006 to ~43,001 (SD 30,237); Z = –2.79, P = .005
Total minutes of PA per week climbed from ~106 min (SD 72) to ~224 min (SD 168); Z = –3.36, P < .001 diabetes.jmir.org+1PubMed+1
These are statistically significant, clinically meaningful improvements in movement levels.
What Pharmaliteracy Readers Should Know
Salud Paso por Paso demonstrates the power of culturally tailored, community‑engaged interventions in translating diabetes care into measurable habits. For clinicians, policymakers, and educators focused on health equity, this program offers a tested template—not just theory.
A Clear Next Step
Though small and non‑controlled, the results are promising: high retention and substantial increases in activity. Next up: larger randomized trials, longer follow‑up, and broader implementation in Hispanic communities.
Final Takeaway:
When health strategies honor culture, language, and lived experience, they unlock real behavior change. Salud Paso por Paso isn’t just walking—it’s walking smart.
Read full article : https://diabetes.jmir.org/2025/1/e62876