BACKGROUND:
Black men in the United States experience disproportionately high type 2 diabetes burden and related complications yet remain underrepresented in self-management education and support programs.¹⁻² Sociocultural factors including masculine norms and historical mistrust of healthcare systems create engagement barriers.⁴⁻⁵ This mixed methods feasibility study evaluated the implementation of a culturally adapted, peer-led diabetes self-management and support intervention to assess acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, and identify factors influencing implementation.¹˒⁸˒⁹

METHODS:
We employed a convergent mixed methods design⁷ integrating three implementation science frameworks: the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications to Evidence-based Implementation Strategies, and Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance.¹ Data collection included semi-structured interviews with one Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist and two trained Black male peer leaders with lived diabetes experience, plus two focus groups with prior program participants (N=11).³ Validated surveys measured acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, implementation leadership, and satisfaction. Qualitative data were analyzed using the Rigorous and Accelerated Data Reduction (RADaR) technique⁶ with joint display integration.⁷

RESULTS:
Feasibility benchmarks were met: the intervention demonstrated high acceptability (4.46/5), appropriateness (4.41/5), and feasibility (4.40/5).² Implementation leadership was strong (3.17/4). Participants reported moderate satisfaction (18.42/32), identifying specific enhancement opportunities including structured between-session support.³ Qualitative themes converged with quantitative findings, revealing culturally grounded communication, peer leaders' flexibility to adapt content,⁸˒⁹ and shared racial and gender identity as mechanisms supporting high appropriateness.³⁻⁴ Brotherhood, psychological safety, and hybrid virtual delivery facilitated engagement and addressed access barriers. Maintenance themes included sustained peer meetings beyond the program period and shifts in mindset toward diabetes self-management.

CONCLUSIONS:
Feasibility aims were achieved, with implementation measures exceeding acceptability thresholds.² These findings suggest the intervention model warrants adaptation testing in other community-based settings serving Black men with type 2 diabetes.⁵ Future work should strengthen between-session support structures and evaluate effectiveness in a fully powered trial.