A research team at the University of Iowa has been awarded funding to make it easier for patients with disabilities and from different ethnic backgrounds to receive diabetes care.

Arinze Nkemdirim Okere, professor and chair in the Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science at the College of Pharmacy, will lead a group that will develop recommendations for best practices, interventions, and resources specifically tailored to meet the needs of visually impaired patients who need diabetes care.

Cambrey Bao-Phuong Nguyen, adjunct clinical assistant professor in the College of Pharmacy, is a co-principal investigator on the award.

The researchers also will aim to understand the needs of ethnically diverse patients with disabilities when it comes to managing diabetes care; accessibility of diabetes drug information materials and resources; and identifying gaps in pharmacists' knowledge in providing care to this population.

Diabetes is particularly prevalent among people with disabilities, especially those from ethnically diverse backgrounds. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, 16% of individuals with disabilities have diabetes, more than double the percentage of those without a disability.

The $43,000 award comes from the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) through its Collaborative Actions to Reach Equity grants program. 

“We are excited to have support from PhRMA to address the health disparities patients with disabilities face related to their diabetes care,” Okere says. “With this award, we aspire to raise awareness and fill in knowledge gaps for pharmacists by providing best practices and resources to remove barriers for this patient population.”