CDC Partner Launches Diabetes Health Information Gateway

In recognition of National Diabetes Month, the Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO), unveiled its Health Information Gateway: Diabetes (“the Gateway”), on November 3. Diabetes, which can lead to heart disease, stroke, blindness and amputation, is currently the fifth-leading cause of death among Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders (AA & NHOPIs). The new online diabetes information database was developed for physicians, advocates, health educators, patients and their families who need high-quality materials in a variety of Asian and Pacific Islander languages.

Centralized Information: Easy Access, Anywhere

As the first Web-based clearinghouse of in-language diabetes health information for AA & NHOPIs, the Gateway makes finding materials on a wide variety of diabetes topics fast, easy and free. Registered users and visitors alike can search and find diabetes information on different topics such as what traditional New Year’s foods to eat or avoid, tips on foot care and diabetes during pregnancy. Most materials—fact sheets, brochures, booklets, posters, etc.—are available for download in a multitude of languages including Cambodian, Chamorro, Chinese, Chuukese, Gujarati, Hindi, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Lao, Samoan, Tagalog, Thai, Tongan and Vietnamese.
 
“Until now, there’s really been no single place online where people could find the diabetes health information they needed and in the language they needed it in—information gathering was generally time consuming and scattered,” said Jeff Caballero, executive director of AAPCHO. “We’re, thus, extremely proud that Gateway addresses this problem and does it by involving community members, diabetes patients and health experts to contribute and collaboratively enrich the materials with their own insights, all in a centralized location.”

High-Quality, Community-Reviewed Materials

The Gateway provides access to tested health materials from the National Diabetes Education Program and also community-contributed health materials. The Gateway’s community-contributed health materials are reviewed through a unique two-pronged process that ensures not only medical accuracy, but also cultural and linguistic appropriateness. As a community-curated collection of high-quality, in-language diabetes information, Gateway provides free access to all materials; in fact, registered users can view both reviewed and still-to-be reviewed diabetes health materials to decide for themselves what is most appropriate for their needs. Users even have the option of rating a material based on their experience or adding comments, thereby enriching the database for future Gateway visitors.
 
The Health Information Gateway: Diabetes works to keep all its collected in-language materials:

• AA & NHOPI-Centered

To highlight and address the need for high-quality health education and prevention materials for AA & NHOPIs.    

• Community-Based

To alter the face of health education through increased community–based ownership and input.     

• Easily Accessible

To increase the ease of access with which anyone can search for a wide range of in-language, health education materials.

About AAPCHO

AAPCHO is a national association representing 27 community health organizations dedicated to promoting advocacy, collaboration and leadership that improves the health status and access of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders in the United States. Since 1987, AAPCHO has advocated for policies and programs that improve the provision of healthcare services that are community driven, financially affordable, linguistically accessible and culturally appropriate.

More Information

• AAPCHO
• Diabetes Gateway Materials and Registration