Cynthia Fritschi, PhD, RN, CDE

The overarching goal of my research is to develop ecological interventions to increase physical activity in aging adults with type 2 diabetes in an effort to maximize mobility, enhance quality of life, and attenuate the deleterious effects of diabetes. The short-term goal is to identify patterns in patient-reported outcomes such as fatigue and sleep; biological factors such as glucose variation; and psychological phenomena and their relationship to physical activity. I have a 20-year history as a diabetes clinical nurse specialist and am a certified diabetes educator. Much of my clinical experience has included working with patients who are sedentary; complain of serious and persistent fatigue, poor sleep, fatigue; and feel like they are unable to maintain their diabetes self-management efforts, especially engagement in physical activity.

The primary aim of my current research is to use state-of-the-science ecological momentary assessment (EMA) methods to examine the influence of selected baseline characteristics (health/physical status, general fatigue, body composition, depression, and demographic factors) and real-time biobehavioral factors (fatigue, sleep, and blood glucose levels) on physical activity in adults with T2DM. During the past few years, with K99 funding from the NINR and excellent mentorship, I have been able to develop skills in use of real-time data capture, ecological momentary assessment, and sleep disturbances, while enhancing my knowledge of developing randomized, intervention trials in physical activity.

Current Area of Teaching
Graduate Entry Advanced Generalists Master's Program

Course Coordinator: NURS 421 Pathophysiology

Guest Lecturer: NURS 422 Pharmacology

Service / Practice
UIC Faculty Senator

CON Faculty Executive Committee

UIC CON Graduate Admission & Academic Standards Committee

Selected Honors & Awards
1993 Sigma Theta Tau (inducted at Rush University, Chicago, IL)

2004 Finalist: University of Illinois at Chicago General Clinical Research Center Travel Award Competition

2005 Seth Rosen Graduate Student Award, University of Illinois at Chicago.

2010 Research Fellowship, CDC Physical Activity and Public Health Course

2012 Janet A. Deatrick & UIC College of Nursing Junior Faculty Research Award

2012 Representative Expert reviewer for the American Association of Diabetes Educators: Position Statement: Management of Hyperglycemia in Type 2 Diabetes: A Patient-¬Centered Approach from the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD)

2013 Finalist: Society for Behavioral Medicine, Diabetes Special Interest Group Travel Award

Current Research
1R00-NR012219 Fritschi (PI) 07/2012-06/30/2015
NIH/NINR
Momentary Biobehavioral Effects on Physical Activity in Adults with T2 Diabetes
The goal of this study is to use real-time data collection instruments and ecological momentary assessment methods to identify co-variation in hourly fluctuations between continuously monitored glucose levels, self-reported fatigue, sleep quality, and physical activity in aging adults with type 2 diabetes.

Fritschi, C., Park, H., Richardson, A., Park, C., Riesche, L., Collins, E.G., Mermelstein, R., & Quinn, L (2015, In Press). Temporal association between time spent in sedentary behavior and duration of hyperglycemia in type 2 diabetes. Biological Research for Nursing.

Park, H., Fritschi, C., Park, C., & Quinn, L. Glucose Control and fatigue in type 2 diabetes: The mediating roles of diabetes symptoms, and distress. J Adv Nurs. (2015) Feb 18. doi: 10.1111/jan.12632. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 25690988.

Fritschi, C. & Redeker, N.S. (2015). Contributions of Comorbid Diabetes to Sleep Characteristics, Daytime Symptoms, and Physical Function among Patients with Stable Heart Failure. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, (30) 5, 411-419. PMID: 25078876

Ryan, C. J., Choi, H., Fritschi, C., Hershberger, P. E., Vincent, C. V., Hacker, E. D., Zerwic, J. J., Norr, K., Park, H., Tastan, S., Keenan, G. M., Finnegan, L., Zhao, Z., Gallo, A. M., & Wilkie, D. J. (2013). Challenges and solutions for using informatics in research. Western Journal of Nursing Research, 35(6), 722-741.

Fritschi, C., Collins, E. G., O’Connell, S., McBurney, C., Butler, J., & Edwards L. (2013). The effects of smoking status on walking ability and health-related quality of life in patients with peripheral arterial disease. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 28(4), 380-386.

Chang, A. K., Park, Y. H., Fritschi, C., & Kim, M. J. (2013). A Family Involvement and Patient-Tailored Health Management Program in Elderly Korean Stroke Patients’ Day Care Centers. Rehabilitation Nursing, [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 23720087

Chang, A. K., Fritschi, C., & Kim, M. J. (2013). Sedentary behavior, physical activity, and psychological health of Korean older adults with hypertension: effect of an empowerment intervention. Research in Gerontological Nursing, 6(2), 81-88.
Fritschi, C., Quinn, L., Hacker, E. D., Penckofer, S. M., Wang, E., Foreman, M., & Ferrans, C. E. (2012). Fatigue in women with type 2 diabetes. The Diabetes Educator, 38(5), 662-672.

Collins, E. G., McBurney, C., Butler, J., Jelinek, C., O’Connell, S., Fritschi, C., & Reda, D. (2012). The Effects of Walking or Walking-with-Poles Training on Tissue Oxygenation in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease. International Journal of Vascular Medicine, Epub 2012 Sep 25.

Chang, A. K., Fritschi, C., & Kim, M. J. (2012). Nurse-led empowerment strategies for hypertensive patients with metabolic syndrome. Contemporary Nurse, 42(1), 118-128.

Fritschi, C., & Fink, A. M. (2012). Fatigue in adults with type 2 diabetes: An overview of current understanding and management approaches. European Journal of Endocrinology, 8(2), 80-83.

Fritschi, C., Quinn, L., Penckofer, S., & Surdyk, P. M. (2010). Continuous glucose monitoring: the experience of women with type 2 diabetes. The Diabetes Educator, 36(2), 250-257.

Fritschi, C., & Quinn, L. (2010). Fatigue in patients with diabetes: A review. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 69(1), 33-41.

Faulkner, M. S., Quinn, L., & Fritschi, C. (2010). Microalbuminuria and heart rate variability in adolescents with diabetes. Journal of Pediatric Health Care, 24(1), 34-41.

Faulkner, M.S., Fritschi, C., Quinn, L., & Hepworth, J. (2010). Cardiovascular risks in adolescents with diabetes from vulnerable populations. Home Health Care Management and Practice, 22(2), 123-130.

Shaibi, G. Q., Michaliszyn, S. B., Fritschi, C., Quinn, L., & Faulkner, M. S. (2009). Type 2 diabetes in youth: A phenotype of poor cardiorespiratory fitness and low physical activity. International Journal of Pediatric Obesity, 4(4), 332-337.

Michaliszyn, S. F., Shaibi, G. Q., Quinn, L., Fritschi, C., & Faulkner, M. S. (2009). Physical fitness, dietary intake, and metabolic control in adolescents with type 1 diabetes. Pediatric Diabetes, 10(6), 389-394.

Shaibi, G. Q., Faulkner, M. S., Weigensberg, M. J., Fritschi, C., & Goran, M. I. (2008). Cardiorespiratory fitness and physical activity in youth with type 2 diabetes. Pediatric Diabetes, 9(5), 460-463.

Faulkner, M. S., Chao, W. H., Kamath, S. K., Quinn, L., Fritschi, C., Maggiore, J. A., Williams, R. H., & Reynolds, R. D. (2006). Total homocysteine, diet, and lipid profiles in type 1 and type 2 diabetic and nondiabetic adolescents. Journal of Cardiovascular Nursing, 21(1), 47-55.

Fritschi, C., & Richlin, D. (2004). The metabolic syndrome–early action to decrease risks for cardiovascular disease. AAOHN Journal, 52(8), 320-322.

Fritschi, C. (2001). Preventive care of the diabetic foot. The Nursing Clinics of North America, 36(2), 303-320, vii.