The effect of diabetes self-management education on body weight, glycemic control, and other metabolic markers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Chuang Yuan,Meyrick Chow,Christopher W K Lai,Lawrence W C Chan,Helen K W Law,Michael Ying

doi:10.1155/2014/789761

Abstract

Aims. To comprehensively evaluate the effect of a short-term diabetes self-management education (DSME) on metabolic markers and atherosclerotic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods. 76 patients with type 2 diabetes were recruited in this study. They were divided into the intervention group (n = 36) and control group (n = 40). The patients in the intervention group received a 3-month intervention, including an 8-week education on self-management of diabetes mellitus and subsequent 4 weeks of practice of the self-management guidelines. The patients in the control group received standard advice on medical nutrition therapy. Metabolic markers, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), and carotid arterial stiffness (CAS) of the patients in both groups were assessed before and after the 3-month intervention. Results. There was a significant reduction in hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c, −0.2 ± 0.56% versus 0.08 ± 0.741%; P < 0.05) and body weight (−1.19 ± 1.39 kg versus −0.61 ± 2.04 kg; P < 0.05) in the intervention group as compared to the control group. However, no significant improvements were found in other metabolic markers, CIMT and CAS (P > 0.05). Conclusions. DSME can improve HbA1c and body weight in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Highlights

Diabetes mellitus, commonly type 2 diabetes mellitus, is an increasing health problem worldwide
There was no significant difference in age, gender, duration of type 2 diabetes, metabolic markers, carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT), and carotid arterial stiffness (CAS) between the intervention and control groups at the baseline assessment (P > 0.05, Table 2)
For the patients in the intervention group, there was a significant decrease in the hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level and body weight in the follow-up examination when compared with the baseline examination (P < 0.05, Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Commonly type 2 diabetes mellitus, is an increasing health problem worldwide. Monitoring of metabolic markers, such as blood pressure, body weight, lipid profile, blood glucose, and HbA1c, is essential in the clinical management of patients with diabetes, because hypertension, obesity, and dyslipidemia are wellknown risk factors of atherosclerosis and are common in diabetic patients [2]. Monitoring of these risk factors helps in the evaluation of treatment response of the patients. Patients with diabetes tend to have increased CIMT and CAS [5, 6] Assessing these atherosclerotic parameters is important for patients with diabetes to evaluate the risk of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events as well as treatment response

Methods

Results

Conclusion