Translation of Evidence-Based Diabetes Prevention Research Among Clients With Substance Use Disorders:

Among individuals dealing with substance use disorders, the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is notably high. These two-part publications highlight the crucial role of nurses in actively engaging individuals in the maintenance phase of drug treatment, known as “Recovery.” This phase is critical as it encourages individuals with problematic substance use to participate in peer Diabetes Lifestyle Intervention Training and, in turn, deliver the interventions to their peers.

The short-term benefits of this first known translation of the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) in drug addiction treatment programs include:

1. Empowering nurses and strengthening of nursing roles in chronic disease prevention; 

2. Improving nurse-client relationships: and

a. Nurses partnered with their clients in opportunistic prevention and health promotion activities.

b. Clients trained as peer educators (Facilitators) remained enthusiastic about delivering health promotion activities and engaging their peers.

3. Developing peer educators' (Facilitators)‘ self-efficacy and self-determination through access to employment opportunities.