Overview

My program of research focuses on diabetes prevention and control in ethnic minority, high risk, and medically underserved communities. Overwhelming evidence has demonstrated that participation in self-management interventions lead to improved diabetes-related health and psychosocial outcomes. However, in the absence of ongoing, long-term support, these improvements are short-lived (less than 6 months). My research team develops, implements, and evaluates sustainable and capacity building models to promote lifelong diabetes self-management efforts. Over the past 10 years, we have been investigating peer support as a promising model to improve diabetes care in economically disadvantaged or marginalized communities. These communities include African American and Latino adults in Detroit Michigan and South Asian adults in Vancouver, British Columbia. We have also initiated a peer support study recruiting newly diagnosed and complex patients from tertiary care settings. By drawing on community-based resources such as peer support, it is possible to implement diabetes prevention and self-management interventions in a cost-effective and practical way that can potentially lead to clinical and psychosocial benefits particularly for high risk and low-resource communities.

Publications

12- and 18- month clinical and psychosocial outcomes from a community health worker and peer leader diabetes self-management program for Latino adults with diabetes: A randomized controlled effectiveness trial.
Diabetes Care
2018

Assessing quality of life in diabetes: II – Deconstructing measures into a simple framework
Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
Tang TS, Yusuf FL, Polonsky WH, Fisher L. Assessing quality of life in diabetes: II–Deconstructing measures into a simple framework. diabetes research and clinical practice. 2017 Apr 1;126:286-302.
2017

Examining the Support Peer Supporters Provide Using Structural Equation Modeling: Nondirective and Directive Support in Diabetes Management
Annals of Behavioral Medicine
Kowitt SD, Ayala GX, Cherrington AL, Horton LA, Safford MM, Soto S, Tang TS, Fisher EB. Examining the support peer supporters provide using structural equation modeling: nondirective and directive support in diabetes management. Annals of Behavioral Medicine. 2017 Apr 17;51(6):810-21.
2017

Diabetes Distress, Depression and Glycemic Control in a Canadian-Based Specialty Care Setting
Canadian Journal of Diabetes
Wong EM, Afshar R, Qian H, Zhang M, Elliott TG, Tang TS. Diabetes Distress, Depression and Glycemic Control in a Canadian-Based Specialty Care Setting. Canadian journal of diabetes. 2017 Aug 1;41(4):362-5.
2017

When's dinner? Does timing of dinner affect the cardiometabolic risk profiles of South-Asian Canadians at risk for diabetes
Diabetic Medicine
Sandhu SK, Tang TS. When's dinner? Does timing of dinner affect the cardiometabolic risk profiles of South-Asian Canadians at risk for diabetes. Diabetic Medicine. 2017 Apr 1;34(4):539-42.
2017

Recruitment and Retention of South Asian Ethnic Minority Populations in Behavioral Interventions to Improve Type 2 Diabetes Outcomes
Mahmood B, Afshar R, Tang TS. Recruitment and retention of south Asian ethnic minority populations in behavioral interventions to improve type 2 diabetes outcomes. Current diabetes reports. 2017 Apr 1;17(4):25.
2017

Diabetes Nurse Case Management in a Canadian Tertiary Care Setting: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Canadian Journal of Diabetes
Li D, Elliott T, Klein G, Ur E, Tang TS. Diabetes Nurse Case Management in a Canadian Tertiary Care Setting: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial. Canadian journal of diabetes. 2017 Jun 1;41(3):297-304.
2017

Using Exploratory Focus Groups to Inform the Development of a Peer-Supported Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program: DIRECTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH
Journal of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation and Prevention
Poureslami I, Camp P, Shum J, Afshar R, Tang T, FitzGerald JM. Using Exploratory Focus Groups to Inform the Development of a Peer-Supported Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program: DIRECTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH. Journal of cardiopulmonary rehabilitation and prevention. 2017 Jan 1;37(1):57-64.
2017

Diabetes Distress and Depression in South Asian Canadians with Type 2 Diabetes
Canadian Journal of Diabetes
Sidhu R, Tang TS. Diabetes distress and depression in South Asian Canadians with type 2 diabetes. Canadian journal of diabetes. 2017 Feb 1;41(1):69-72.
2017

Assessing quality of life in diabetes: I. A practical guide to selecting the best instruments and using them wisely
Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
Fisher L, Tang T, Polonsky W. Assessing quality of life in diabetes: I. A practical guide to selecting the best instruments and using them wisely. diabetes research and clinical practice. 2017 Apr 1;126:278-85.
2016

Immigration and dietary patterns in South Asian Canadians at risk for diabetes
Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications
Kandola K, Sandhu S, Tang T. Immigration and dietary patterns in South Asian Canadians at risk for diabetes. Journal of diabetes and its complications. 2016 Nov 1;30(8):1462-6.
2016

Peer-Led, Empowerment-Based Approach to Self-Management Efforts in Diabetes (PLEASED): A Randomized Controlled Trial in an African American Community
Annals of Family Medicine
Tang TS, Funnell MM, Sinco B, Spencer MS, Heisler M. Peer-led, empowerment-based approach to self-management efforts in diabetes (PLEASED): a randomized controlled trial in an African American community. The Annals of Family Medicine. 2015 Aug 1;13(Suppl 1):S27-35.
08/2015

Rethinking peer support for diabetes in Vancouver's South-Asian community: a feasibility study
Diabetic Medicine
Tang TS, Sohal PS, Garg AK. Rethinking peer support for diabetes in Vancouver's South-Asian community: a feasibility study. Diabetic Medicine. 2015 Aug 1;32(8):1077-84.
2015

Contributions of Peer Support to Health, Health Care, and Prevention: Papers from Peers for Progress.
The Annals of Family Medicine
Fisher EB, Ayala GX, Ibarra L, Cherrington AL, Elder JP, Tang TS, Heisler M, Safford MM, Simmons D. Contributions of peer support to health, health care, and prevention: Papers from peers for progress. The Annals of Family Medicine. 2015 Aug 1;13(Suppl 1):S2-8.
2015

Comparative Effectiveness of Peer Leaders and Community Health Workers in Diabetes Self-management Support: Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial
Diabetes Care
Tang TS, Funnell M, Sinco B, Piatt G, Palmisano G, Spencer MS, Kieffer EC, Heisler M. Comparative effectiveness of peer leaders and community health workers in diabetes self-management support: results of a randomized controlled trial. Diabetes care. 2014 Jun 1;37(6):1525-34.
06/2014

Impact of Patient Use of an Online Patient Portal on Diabetes Outcomes
Canadian Journal of Diabetes
Lau M, Campbell H, Tang T, Thompson DJ, Elliott T. Impact of patient use of an online patient portal on diabetes outcomes. Canadian journal of Diabetes. 2014 Feb 1;38(1):17-21.
02/2014

Outcomes of a Church-based Diabetes Prevention Program Delivered by Peers
The Diabetes Educator
Tang TS, Nwankwo R, Whiten Y, Oney C. Outcomes of a church-based diabetes prevention program delivered by peers: a feasibility study. The Diabetes Educator. 2014 Mar;40(2):223-30.
01/2014

Real-time continuous glucose monitoring versus internet-based blood glucose monitoring in adults with type 2 diabetes: A study of treatment satisfaction
Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
Tang TS, Digby EM, Wright AM, Chan JH, Mazanderani AB, Ross SA, Tildesley HG, Lee AM, White AS, Tildesley HD. Real-time continuous glucose monitoring versus internet-based blood glucose monitoring in adults with type 2 diabetes: a study of treatment satisfaction. Diabetes research and clinical practice. 2014 Dec 1;106(3):481-6.
2014

Does a 2.5-year self-management education and support intervention change patterns of healthcare use in African-American adults with Type 2 diabetes?
Does a 2.5-year self-management education and support intervention change patterns of healthcare use in African-American adults with Type 2 diabetes?
Yeung RO, Oh M, Tang TS. Does a 2.5-year self-management education and support intervention change patterns of healthcare use in African-American adults with Type 2 diabetes?. Diabetic Medicine. 2014 Apr 1;31(4):472-6.
2013

A Comparison of Internet Monitoring with Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Insulin-Requiring Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Canadian Journal of Diabetes
Tildesley HD, Wright AM, Chan JH, Mazanderani AB, Ross SA, Tildesley HG, Lee AM, Tang TS, White AS. A comparison of internet monitoring with continuous glucose monitoring in insulin-requiring type 2 diabetes mellitus. Canadian journal of diabetes. 2013 Oct 1;37(5):305-8.
2013

Evaluating a diabetes self-management support peer leader training programme for the English- and Punjabi-speaking South-Asian community in Vancouver
Diabetic Medicine
Tang TS, Sohal PS, Garg AK. Evaluating a diabetes self-management support peer leader training programme for the English-and Punjabi-speaking South-Asian community in Vancouver. Diabetic Medicine. 2013 Jun 1;30(6):746-52.
2013

Tailoring diabetes education and care to minority patients and families.
American Diabetes Association
Nwankwo, R. B., Tang, T. S. (2002). Tailoring diabetes education and care to minority patients and families. In Andersin BJ, Rubin RR (eds.): Practical Psychology for Diabetes Clinicians, 2nd Edition. Alexandria, Virginia, American Diabetes Association.
2002