A trip to church for Sunday services may provide more than just spiritual healing. With the help of the Wayne State University School of Medicine and the Morris J. Hood, Jr., Comprehensive Diabetes Center, churches are becoming a place to improve physical and emotional health for people with diabetes and their families.

Since 1999, the WSU department of community medicine, in conjunction with the Detroit Medical Center, has established faith-based diabetes intervention programs in approximately 22 churches and institutions in the Detroit area. Kimberly Campbell-Voytal, PhD, RN, assistant professor of community medicine and program coordinator, says it is getting more common for health providers to partner with church communities. Through this program, called “Take Charge of Your Diabetes,” patients and their families complete a series of classes that teach skills to manage the disease and overall health. Most importantly, the classes are held in churches and congregations where patients feel comfortable and accepted.

“People with chronic diseases like diabetes are being asked by their doctor to change their entire lifestyle,” said Dr. Voytal. “This means patients have to change the way they eat and exercise, make decisions based on blood glucose levels, and restructure important family traditions involving cooking and sharing food. People generally believe that doctors do not appreciate what it takes to do this successfully.”

Dr. Voytal says patients with diabetes can derive support from their neighbors, families and friends, who often gather together in church and are connected through their faith. “We are trying to redefine the community of care,” said John Waller, DrPH, DMC senior vice president for urban and community health and chair of community medicine. “With these faith-based programs, people with diabetes are receiving support from people they trust; they are comfortable in their own neighborhoods; they are not forced to attend classes in a hospital setting; and they feel like this community can help them find reasonable ways to work healthy habits in to their lives,” he said.

For example, New Calvary Baptist Church in Detroit is incredibly active in nurturing the health of its parishioners. Reverend Dr. Michael Nabors, who feels that physical health can affect a person’s spiritual integrity, has already sponsored male health days, hired a health leader in the parish, and provided support for teen-age mothers. He fully endorses WSU’s diabetes program and has even discussed the possibility of sponsoring a dialysis center in the future.

“Take Charge of Your Diabetes” primarily targets people with type II diabetes. So far, approximately 140 people have completed the program and three-quarters of these participants were African American. Since African Americans are at higher risk for diabetes, the program pays particular attention to the needs and concerns of this population, including access to health. Through the Morris J. Hood, Jr., Comprehensive Diabetes Center, Voices of Detroit Initiative, Detroit Medical Center, and other community resources, the DMC/WSU Community Health Institutes is trying to ensure that comprehensive diabetes health care is available to program participants through the Detroit Health Centers. This fall, new programs will also be conducted outside of Detroit in Pontiac, Mt. Clemens, Ecorse and at the Wyandotte YMCA.

Measurable health improvements have been achieved by participants in blood glucose and blood pressure levels. Participants have also improved their efforts to prevent complications by decreasing smoking and having annual foot and eye exams. “The challenge now is to sustain the effort for long-term health care follow-up,” said Dr. Voytal. Regular phone calls, frequent contact with faith-based coordinators and a diabetes information line are helping to meet that challenge, she says.

According to Dr. Waller, holistic living, as supported by community churches and congregations, is a strong base to help build healthy behaviors and lifelong wellness. “We have incredible outcomes so far,” he said. “We hope to touch many more people with this program.”