Co-Designing Culturally-Tailored Pre-Clinical & Diabetes Education for Black Older Adults in Peel

Our study aims to co-design a culturally tailored self-management intervention for Black older adults living with or at risk for diabetes in Peel. The culturally-tailored self-management will be multifaceted based on key effective elements of self-management and would include but are not limited to education, goal setting regarding nutrition types and preferences, medication management, and reminders for health behaviours.

Knowledge Mobilization

Kokorelias, K.M., ++Onyekere, C., Singh, H., Munce, S.E.P., Wijekoon, S., Kalu, M.E., & Harris, M.T. (2026 – Accepted). The work-of-faith care: an interpretive phenomenological analysis on the role of spirituality and religion in diabetes self-management among Black older adults in the Greater Toronto Area. The Science of Diabetes Self-Management and Care. 

Cyrus, E., Harris, M.T. Kalu, M., & Kokorelias, K.M. (2026 - Accepted). Counting Sugar, Preserving Stories. International Health Trends and Perspectives.  

Onyekere, C.P., Kalu, M., Harris, M.T., Singh, H., Eaton, A., Zewude, R., Parpia, R., Sirisegaram, L., Kokorelias, K.M. (2025, October). Self-Management experiences of Black older adults living with diabetes or pre-diabetes in peel region: Preliminary findings from a community-based study. Presented at the Canadian Association on Gerontology Annual Scientific and Educational Meeting, Montreal, Quebec.

Earle, M., Kokorelias, K., Valentine, D., Dove, E., Eaton, A., Harris, M.T., Hitzig, S., Munce, S., Parpia, R., Sheppard, C., Walmsley, S., Wasilewski, M., Zhabokritsky, A., Zewude, R., & Sirisegaram, L. (2025, October). "I want to be accepted when I go to healthcare": Informing virtual patient navigation for older adults with HIV. Presented at the AGE-WELL Conference 2025, Montreal, QB.  

Kokorelias, K.M., Onyekere, C.P., Harris, M.T. Singh, H., Eaton, A., Zewude, R., Parpia, R., Sirisegaram, L., Kalu, M. (2025, October). Managing stress and diabetes in Black older adults living with diabetes: A qualitative exploration of cultural and social factors. Presented at the Canadian Association on Gerontology Annual Scientific and Educational Meeting, Montreal, Quebec. 

Kokorelias, K., Onyekere, C.P., Harris, M.T., Singh, H., Eaton, A., Zewude, R., Parpia, R.,  Sirisegaram, L.,  Kumapayi, P.T. & Kalu, M.E. (2025, June). Empowering health equity through prevention and self-management: Co-designing culturally-tailored pre-clinical and diabetes education for Black older adults in Peel. Novo Nordisk Network for Healthy Populations Discovery Day, Toronto, ON, Canada. 

Meet the Team

  • Kristina Kokorelias, Ph.D.(She/Her)

    Nominated Principal Applicant

  • Michael Kalu, Ph.D. (He/Him)

    Co-Principal Investigator

  • Maurita T. Harris, Ph.D. (She/Her)

    Co-Principal Investigator

  • Hardeep Singh, Ph.D.

    Co-Investigator

  • Andrew Eaton, Ph.D. (He/Him)

    Co-Investigator

  • Rahel Zewude, Ph.D.

    Rahel Zewude, Ph.D.

  • Sarah Munce, Ph.D. (She/Her)

    Co-Investigator

  • Rabea Parpia (She/Her)

    Collaborator

  • Luxey Sirisegaram (She/Her)

    Collaborator

  • Chukwuebuka Prince Onyekere

    Research Assistant

  • Errol Cyrus (He/Him)

    Community Partner

Our Funding Partner

Novo Nordisk Network for Healthy Populations 2024 Network Catalyst Grant

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