The effect of a Chinese diabetes education workshop named ‘Not Scared of Sugar’ among Cantonese-speaking Australians with type 2 diabetes

Participants (Cantonese-speaking Australians with type 2 diabetes) will be provided with a 6-session diabetes group-education (5x fortnightly 2hour session plus a 2hour follow-up session at 6-month from session 1 = over 6 months for the whole program) delivered by a multidisciplinary diabetes team (dietitian, diabetes nurse educator, physiotherapist and podiatrist). The six sessions will be delivered in Cantonese and culturally-tailored to the Chinese people's preferred learning style based on evidence. The group-education consists of diabetes self-management information provision and participation in activities like resistance training led by the physiotherapist (using appropriate theraband individually-determined by the physiotherapist with a simple risk assessment and optional opting out). A lesson plan (see below) has been developed collectively by the health professional team with consumer consultation, to ensure consistency and enhance cultural appropriateness. To encourage attendance of all sessions, patient-participants will be presented with a certificate of participation upon completion (at session 6). To measure the effectiveness of the group diabetes education program, the following will be collected at session 1 (baseline), session 5 (8 week post-baseline) and session 6 (24-26 week post-baseline), and at 12 month follow-up: (1) height, weight, waist and blood pressure; (2) questionnaires regarding lifestyle habits, diabetes self-management behaviours, diabetes-related psychological distress, satisfaction with the education program; (3) blood test results (provided by participants' General Practitioner) for HbA1c and lipid profile. Lesson plan (aligning with the AADE7 self-care behaviours): Session 1: Pathophysiology of diabetes, annual cycle of care (facilitator who is the dietitian) Session 2: Self-blood glucose monitoring & medications (diabetes nurse educator) and dietary management (dietitian) Session 3: Dietary management (dietitian) Session 4: Physical activity management & exercise (physiotherapist) Session 5: Foot care (podiatrist) and diabetes related distress management (facilitator who is the dietitian) Follow-up session: Progress discussion & management of relapse (facilitator who is the dietitian)