Feasibility Trial in Urban Pakistan for Community Engagement in Preventing Type II Diabetes and Risk Factors (EMPOWER-D)

The pivotal components of this approach include adapting, implementing, and evaluating the Participatory Learning and Action (PLA) based intervention for the prevention and control of Type II diabetes (TIIDM). TIIDM is considered the fastest-growing health emergency, affecting 537 million adults worldwide. Global projections for the year 2045 suggest that a 12.2% rise in TIIDM is anticipated with an additional 11.4% rise for intermediate hyperglycemia (IHG). Around 80% of people with TIIDM reside in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs), exhausting the already burdened healthcare system.

The intervention, adapted from the "Community groups or mobile phone messaging to prevent and control type 2 diabetes and intermediate hyperglycemia in Bangladesh (DMagic)" trial, has been tested and found effective in the rural context of Bangladesh. However, PLA-based intervention has not been previously tested in urban communities. Considering the distinct sociocultural environment of urban settings, a feasibility trial will be conducted in urban Karachi, Pakistan.

The feasibility trial will assess the intervention's adaptability and effectiveness in this new context. It is anticipated that the use of evidence-based approaches, best practices, and meaningful community participation through PLA will enhance the social and behavioral determinants of health and lead to improved health outcomes. This approach aims to control TIIDM and pave the way for managing other non-communicable diseases through similar focused interventions.