Community initiative aims to improve type 2 diabetes care in Hispanic adults

Janssen Pharmaceuticals has launched a multifaceted initiative designed to support healthcare professionals who treat the culturally-unique needs of Hispanic adults with type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes is more prevalent in the Hispanic population than in the non-Hispanic white population in the United States: Of the approximately 54 million Hispanics who are living in the United States, 12.8% have diagnosed diabetes compared to 7.6% of non-Hispanic whites, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This initiative is designed to help improve type 2 diabetes care, education and management in the Hispanic community through training and education programs.

Janssen manufactures canagliflozin (Invokana) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes

Shah“Because of the growth of the U.S. Hispanic population, it’s critical to help improve diabetes care in the Hispanic community,” said Nauman Shah, vice president of marketing, Janssen Pharmaceuticals. “This initiative is set apart by its broad-scale efforts to support Hispanic type 2 diabetes patients at every stage of their journeys.”

This includes providing culturally-relevant information about type 2 diabetes and treatment approaches, and tailored Invokana support services to increase medication access and adherence, and improve lifestyle management. Tools available for physicians are designed to help overcome cultural and linguistic barriers to providing more effective care for Hispanic patients.

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Resources include patient access services and digital platforms such as the Invokana CarePath patient support program that have been tailored for Hispanic patients. Patient-centric educational resources, such as the patient decision aid, will also be available. This has been culturally and linguistically adapted for Hispanic adults with type 2 diabetes and can help physicians tailor treatment approaches based on individual patient preferences.

“This Spanish-language decision aid walks patients through a decision-making process with information about type 2 diabetes treatment options based on efficacy, safety, route of administration, and cost,” Shah said. “Through a series of questions, the tool elicits information about the individual’s preferences and creates a summary report of responses to help physicians customize treatment plans.”

The American Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes have called for shared decision-making in their joint recommendations for a patient-centered approach to the management of type 2 diabetes.

"This approach involves healthcare professionals partnering with patients to choose among guideline-recommended medications that are consistent with patient values and life circumstances," Shah said. "Nearly half of adults with diabetes do not achieve recommended levels of glucose control. However, evidence shows that engaging patients may improve adherence to therapy."

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These resources were inspired by the important role of family in the Hispanic population, according to Shah. “They also address gaps in Hispanics’ understanding of key diabetes health measures, such A_1C, and provide practical lifestyle management resources, such as healthy eating and exercise plans that are culturally relevant to Hispanic patients,” he said.

Shah cited the results of a recent US Hispanic insights survey, conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of Janssen, showing key cultural differences in how Hispanic and non-Hispanic type 2 diabetes patients perceive and manage their disease. It showed that fewer Hispanic type 2 diabetes patients are aware of the American Diabetes Association’s recommended target A_1C level of 7% or less compared with non-Hispanic type 2 diabetes patients (40% vs. 60%), and are more than 5 times as likely to not take their medication as prescribed when feeling well (21% vs. 4%) than non-Hispanic type 2 diabetes patients. That same survey showed that Hispanics with type 2 diabetes are nearly twice as likely as non-Hispanic patients to feel isolated because of diabetes (34% vs. 18%), are more motivated by family to manage the disease (76% vs. 51%), and are much more likely to have difficulty adjusting to life with type 2 diabetes (50% vs. 32%).

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He said that formulary coverage of Invokana for the treatment of type 2 diabetes is expanding rapidly, with preferred access for more than 80% of commercial and Medicare Part D patients.

Janssen is currently conducting health economic and outcomes research studies to uncover new insights into the Hispanic type 2 diabetes population.

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