Problem:
The target population for this project is adults aged 45 and older living in rural communities who have type 2 diabetes (T2D). This group experiences disproportionately high rates of diabetes-related complications, including cardiovascular disease and kidney dysfunction, due to challenges such as limited access to healthcare providers, medication shortages, low health literacy, and cultural or psychosocial barriers to effective self-management (ADA, 2023; Gupta et al., 2024). Addressing the identified need for improved diabetes education and support within this population is essential to reducing preventable complications and advancing health equity. The intervention will be implemented in rural community clinics or multidisciplinary health centers, which are often the primary and sometimes only sources of affordable, ongoing care for underserved populations. These settings are ideal for delivering accessible, tailored DSMES interventions, as they facilitate interprofessional collaboration and sustained patient engagement (Bejarano et al., 2024; Whittemore et al., 2025). Need Assignment Help?