Culturally Tailored Lifestyle Intervention Improves Glycemic Control in a Newly Diagnosed Untreated Type 2 Diabetic Patient: A Case Report

Abstract

Type 2 diabetes makes up about 90% of all diabetes cases and affects roughly 10% of adults worldwide, with a higher rate among non-Hispanic Black individuals than non-Hispanic White individuals. This case study presents a 45-year-old Black African female newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and referred from her primary healthcare provider with a fasting blood sugar (FBS) reading of 176.4 mg/dl, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) of 7.8%, weight of 91.5 kg, waist circumference of 97.8 cm, BMI of 35.1 kg/m2, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) of 0.61, and positive family history. The patient had a three-month culturally tailored lifestyle intervention consisting of structured physical activity and healthy local Ghanaian whole foods, plant-based meals, and social intervention. This led to remission with a FBS of 88.2mg/dl, HbA1c of 5.5%, weight of 82 kg, BMI of 31.4 kg/m2, waist circumference 91.4 cm, and a WHtR of 0.57. Blood pressure measurements were normal throughout the three months. A culturally adapted lifestyle intervention was used to achieve remission of type 2 diabetes in the patient. This underscores the role of lifestyle intervention as a cost-effective means of managing type 2 diabetes with remission necessitating the need for its incorporation into routine care for diabetes in primary care clinics.