Video Education For Nutritional Management Of Type 2 Diabetes In A Rural, Multiethnic Community In Molokai, Hawaii

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is seen acutely in the state of Hawaii: 9.7 percent of the adult population is diagnosed, but rates are disproportionate across ethnic groups. Food insecurity, agricultural restrictions, and low health literacy contribute to high rates of chronic disease like T2D. This thesis is a medical anthropological study, to test a modified diabetes education video about nutritional practices to the multiethnic community on Molokai. I argue that this modified educational video is more relevant to the local population by integrating cultural practices of the island, using local foods, local professionals, and local places. I further argue that information presented through the video will translate to improvements in health behaviors: increased knowledge in healthy dietary habits and portion sizes, captured in Knowledge, Attitude, and Behavior surveys and Food Frequency Questionnaires; and improvements in blood glucose levels, measured by HbA1c levels. My five case study participants were divided into control and intervention groups, where the intervention group showed an increased awareness of positive health behaviors, and all participants demonstrated the importance of subsistence activities to supplement their diet with local foods. I conclude that the video had a positive effect on diet and exercise knowledge, and many in the Molokai community are combating limited food availability and affordability in conventional stores through food subsistence methods.