Joslin’s Latino Diabetes Initiative Launches Its First Audio-Novella for Hispanics/Latinos with Diabetes and Their Families

“Rosa’s Story, an audio-novella from the Joslin Diabetes Center Latino Diabetes Initiative, uses the art of storytelling to educate listeners about the challenges of diabetes faced by the Hispanic/Latino population. The first-person accounts of a fictitious Latino woman with type 2 diabetes, and a teenager with pre-diabetes, are told in the new educational package. Designed for Spanish-speaking Latinos with diabetes and their families, the three-CD set is being launched on Nov. 14, World Diabetes Day, a day set aside by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization to increase public awareness of the global diabetes epidemic.

The IDF estimates the number of people with diabetes will exceed 350 million by 2025. Ethnic minorities, including those of Latino or Hispanic heritage, are at greater risk for type 2 diabetes than the general population, making Rosa’s Story both important and timely. Latinos are the fastest growing and largest minority group in the United States. More than 10 percent of Latinos in the United States have diabetes, and one-third of them are undiagnosed. Their risk of developing diabetes is twice as high as non-Latino white Americans.

“Our goal with Rosa’s Story is to teach the Latino population, as well as their healthcare providers, about diabetes by addressing the basic knowledge that everyone needs, as well as the common myths and misconceptions associated with the disease,” said A. Enrique Caballero, M.D., Director of Joslin’s Latino Diabetes Initiative. “The concept behind this audio-novella is based on our years of patient care and research, which allowed us to identify a culturally appropriate way to convey important educational messages about diabetes.”

Rosa’s Story is a one-of-a-kind teaching tool making use of that method. Rosa’s Story includes: three Spanish-language audio CDs, a patient booklet written in Spanish, and a healthcare provider manual written in English. Each chapter addresses a specific issue Rosa faces due to her type 2 diabetes. The first chapter explains how Rosa deals with her diagnosis and how the language barrier and other cultural aspects affect her access to proper diabetes care. The second chapter addresses changes Rosa makes to her meal plan while maintaining her cultural preferences. The third chapter explains how she works physical activity into her daily life as she strives to adopt a healthier lifestyle. By presenting Rosa’s evolution with the disease, the fourth chapter discusses treatment options for people with type 2 diabetes. To address common misconceptions in the Latino community, this chapter also describes Rosa’s fears about oral medications and insulin. The fifth chapter is dedicated to pre-diabetes and focuses on a fictitious 18-year-old named Carolina, who describes her personal experiences with pre-diabetes.

To purchase a copy of Rosa’s Story and the companion materials, contact the Latino Diabetes Initiative by calling 617-264-2733 or order online at

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