Date of Award

Spring 5-16-2026

Document Type

Honors Project

University Scholars Director

Dr. Joshua Tom

First Advisor/Committee Member

Catalina Vlad-Ortiz

Keywords

Type 2 diabetes mellitus, GLP-1 therapy, dietary interventions, equity, dietetics, social determinants of health

Abstract

Objective: Explores the clinical and sociocultural dimensions regarding type 2 diabetes (T2DM) care, comparing GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1 RA) therapy and dietary interventions for adults with T2DM. Part I consists of a narrative literature review examining clinical outcomes such as glycemic control, insulin sensitivity, and weight management for the two compared treatment methods. Part II conducts a narrative literature review examining the structural and social determinants that influence access to diabetes treatments. The review evaluates how social determinants of health (SDOH) shape the real-world implementation of both GLP-1 RA therapies and dietary interventions. The discussion highlights differences in measurable clinical outcomes between GLP-1 RA therapies and nutrition-based treatments while also identifying disparities in access influenced by economic, social, and cultural factors. Integrating clinical evidence with social determinants analysis emphasizes the importance of equitable, evidence-based diabetes care and underscores the role of dietetic professionals in addressing barriers to treatment accessibility.

Comments

A project submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the University Scholars Honors Program.

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