Peer support to prevent and manage diabetes in underserved communities

Lifestyle and self-management programs for diabetes prevention and management have been found to be effective when participants engage with such programs. Unfortunately, underserved communities are often not reached by such programs. This chapter explores barriers to program reach in underserved communities and examines how peer support programs can be more effective than health professional-delivered approaches to better reach and engage with underserved communities, ultimately leading to greater health benefits. The current evidence supporting peer support programs as a more effective way of reaching and engaging with underserved communities and improving health and social outcomes for individuals in these communities is summarized, followed by a discussion of different settings and models of peer support, as well as peer supporter characteristics and training. Suggestions for future work to address the gaps in what authors know about peer support settings, models, and who should deliver peer support are incorporated.