Improving type 1 diabetes management: considerations for a peer support network in Kigali, Rwanda

Background: As non-communicable diseases rise in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), lack of access to care and social support become significant global health concerns. Collaborative work between the Life for a Child (LFAC) program and the Rwanda Diabetes Association (RDA) has improved access to treatment for youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) in Rwanda. These youth, however, still face barriers in diabetes management. Youth with T1D need reliable methods for communicating problems which impair their continued treatment, and consistent social support from people who understand living with diabetes. Peer-support networks (PSN) are a way to address these social and clinical needs. Drawing on LFAC/RDA data and stakeholder insights, this project explores barriers youth face in diabetes management. Methods: In June 2018, RDA data, previously collected between June 2009-February 2018, on 1,515 patients across the country were reviewed and analyzed to generate an updated LFAC/RDA registry as a baseline for planned future intensive follow up. Inclusion criteria were: seen in 2016/2017, aged