Diabetes Education Program Research Articles

An observational multi-center study on type 2 diabetes treatment prescribing pattern and patient adherence to treatment

In 2021, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) reported that the prevalence of diabetes in Pakistan was 9.6%, higher than the global average. However, adherence to treatment guidelines, e.g., American Diabetes Association and Pakistan Endocrine Society and prescription patterns for Oral anti-diabetes (OAD), is poorly understood in Pakistan. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the prescribing practices of anti-diabetic medications, an association of lifestyle modification with drugs prescribed, and their effectiveness in preserving ideal glycemic levels in diabetic patients undergoing treatment in tertiary care teaching hospitals in rural and urban Pakistan. In this cross-sectional study, data were collected from prescriptions of outpatient diabetic patients from different rural and urban tertiary care hospitals between October 2021 and February 2022. 388 participants were enrolled in the study for a detailed interview on prescription evaluation and glycemic control. The coinvestigators conducted an interview with the patient and used a pre-validated questionnaire to collect the data. The relationship between following treatment guidelines and clinical and demographic factors was found using chi-square tests for bivariate analyses. The study reported that out of 388, the mean ages of the patients were 48 ± 12.4, and the majority were female. It was observed that 60.1% and 66.5% have uncontrolled fasting and random blood glucose, respectively. The education level of the study participants was also below par to have a complete understanding of the medical condition and self-management therapy. Even though they were taking the right medications—an average prescription regimen included 5.08 medications—52.1% of the studied people had glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) levels higher than the therapeutic threshold set by the International Diabetes Federation. In this modern era, it was observed that the prescribing trend was still focused on traditional therapeutic options Biguanides, sulfonylureas, and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors were prescribed in 64.6% of the patients. A significant association was found between glycemic control and body mass index, adherence to lifestyle modifications, and the number of medications prescribed (p-value < 0.05). The study reveals that Pakistan's prescribing practices do not align with international and national guidelines, leading to a high prevalence of uncontrolled diabetes and widespread use of polypharmacy among patients. To address this issue, policymakers should prioritize establishing a comprehensive national diabetes action plan. Additionally, there is a pressing need to develop diabetes education and awareness programs emphasizing the importance of lifestyle modifications for effective diabetes management.

Developing and evaluating the usability of a web-based Diabetic Retinopathy Health Education Program for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

To describe the development of a webpage based on the Intervention Mapping (IM) protocol and usability testing of the Diabetic Retinopathy Health Education Profram (DRHEP). The mixed methods pilot feasibility study was carried out between April and September 2021, involving 16 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 5 experts. The usability score was rated according to the System Usability Scale (SUS). The average SUS score by the experts was 88. The patients gave a higher score of 85 for SUS, with 58 as the lowest. The average SUS score was 72. The findings indicate that the webpage is acceptable, good, and highly usable for users. The outcomes of this study signify the relationship between effective health applications and how their design might hamper their effectiveness in changing patients' behavior.

Improving Self-care Behavior and Removing Barriers by Structured Diabetes Education Program in Primary Health-care Settings of Puducherry: Evidence from a Mixed-method Intervention Study

Context: Diabetes self-management education (DSME) improves patients’ clinical outcomes and quality of life by encouraging self-care behavior. Aims: This study aimed to find out the effectiveness of a DSME by comparing changes in stages of self-care behavior and to explore perceived barriers in diet, exercise, and foot care among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in an urban primary health center (PHC) of Puducherry. Settings and Design: A mixed-method intervention study was conducted among 314 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in two urban PHCs randomly allocated to intervention and control arm. Subjects and Methods: The stages of behavior change and barriers perceived in the domains of diet, physical activity, and foot care were captured using a pretested questionnaire. Intervention consisted of DSME along with information leaflets and self-care kits for the intervention group. At the end of 6 months, end-line assessment and in-depth interviews were conducted. Statistical Analysis Used: Quantitative data were analyzed in STATA while manual coding and deductive thematic analysis were done for qualitative data. Results: Footcare showed an improvement of 31%, while diet and exercise domains saw an improvement of 5% each from preaction to action stage when compared with control arm. The main barriers perceived in dietary modification and foot care were lack of awareness. For exercise, the main barriers were lack of perceived need and being physically unfit. Foot-care barriers witnessed maximum resolution (27%) following the intervention. Conclusions: DSME intervention helps in improving stages of behavior change while resolving self-care barriers. Culturally-oriented DSME and patient-tailored interventions are key to empower people living with diabetes by improving self-care.

Beyond the Body: Using Photovoice to Explore Social Determinants of Diabetes With South Asian Adolescents in the Peel Region of Ontario, Canada

ObjectivesThe higher prevalence of diabetes in the South Asian (SA) population living in Canada spans across generations and is often associated with individual risk factors while undermining the social determinants of health (SDOH). There is a scarcity of studies on the perspectives of SA adolescents with a family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Learning directly from these adolescents can fill a major gap by providing insight on how the SDOH contribute to disproportionate rates of T2DM in SA immigrant communities. MethodsIn this study, we used Photovoice, which is a community-based participatory research (CBPR) method that involves the use of photography to visually capture the challenges of diabetes prevention from the perspective of those with lived experiences. A group of 15 SA youth were recruited from an adolescent diabetes education program in the Peel Region of Ontario. The youth discussed their images and accompanied written narratives during focus groups. ResultsFour themes emerged from the thematic analysis of the photographs and participant narratives that influence the manifestation of T2DM in SA communities: 1) immigration and resettlement stressors; 2) food insecurity; 3) unhealthy school environments; and 4) academic pressures. ConclusionsFindings suggest the need to address T2DM as a response to unjust conditions and environments rather than as an epidemic entrenched in genetic predisposition, culture, and poor lifestyle choices.

Mediterranean diet adherence and glycemic control in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

To effectively manage type 1 diabetes (T1D) insulin is essential, with dosages based on lifestyle. The Mediterranean diet has demonstrated its advantages in preventing and enhancing the management of chronic diseases. Our objective was to investigate the potential mediation of sensor activity on the relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and glycemic control in children and adolescents. A total of 150 children and adolescents (mean age = 13.09, SD = 3.54; 44% female) with T1D were recruited. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was assessed using the KIDMED questionnaire which evaluates 16 items and gives higher scores when adherence is higher. Glycemic control and the duration of sensor activity were evaluated with data from flash glucose monitoring. The data confirmed our hypothesis by revealing that adherence to the Mediterranean diet positively influenced glycemic control (direct effect = 1.505; P < 0.01) and that this relationship was mediated by the duration of sensor activity (indirect effect = 0.531; P < 0.01). Conclusions: Our results support the increased utilization of glycemic control devices, as they contribute to improve glycemic control and mediate on the positive relationship between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and adequate glycemic control. Furthermore, our findings highlight the importance of incorporating Mediterranean diet recommendations to achieve better glycemic control in children and adolescents with T1D. What is Known: • The Mediterranean diet and glycemic control have proven benefits in improving cardiovascular health in the general population. Scarce evidence exists of these benefits among children and adolescents with T1D. What is New: • Adherence to the Mediterranean diet and greater use of glucose monitoring devices in children and adolescents with T1D are related to better glycemic control. These variables can be enhanced by psychoeducational interventions such as structured diabetes education programs or peer group-based sessions, which highlights the importance of focusing on these aspects.

Estimation of HbA1c after weight loss using a beta-regression for an economic evaluation of a behavioural weight management programme from the GLoW trial: a methodological study

BackgroundIn economic evaluations, average intervention effects are usually applied to a population. However, this fails to reflect the change in the distribution of HbA1c due to heterogeneous responses to weight loss. We aimed to investigate whether allowing heterogeneous treatment effects using a beta regression better represented the distribution of HbA1c after a weight-loss intervention, and how this affected cost effectiveness. MethodsThe Glucose Lowering through Weight Management (GLoW) trial evaluated the effectiveness of a diabetes education and weight-loss intervention against a standard diabetes education programme. Adults diagnosed with type 2 diabetes within 3 years were recruited from Clinical Commissioning Groups across 159 sites in England from July 20, 2018, to July 22, 2018. Ethics approval (18/ES/0048) and participant informed consent were obtained. Considering the between-treatment-arm difference in HbA1c after 12 months, we compared a mean-effect estimated from a mixed-effects regression to a heterogeneous effect estimated from a beta regression performed on 12-month HbA1c conditional on baseline HbA1c, gender, diabetes duration and intervention group. We used the School of Public Health Research (SPHR) Diabetes Treatment model to apply these treatment effects and evaluate the lifetime NHS costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), discounted at 3·5%. The microsimulation model estimated diabetes-related health outcomes using the UK Prospective Diabetes Study Outcomes Model 2 risk equations and risk factor trajectory equations, alongside estimating diabetes remission, osteoarthritis, and cancer. We calculated the incremental net benefit (INB) of the intervention using a £20 000 per QALY valuation, by deterministic analysis. The GLoW trial is registered with the ISRCTN Registry, ISRCTN18399564. FindingsThe trial recruited 577 participants (mean age 60 years; 278 [53%] female, 247 [47%] male; 474 [91%] white ethnic background). Applying heterogeneous HbA1c changes better reproduced the skewness in post-intervention HbA1c than applying a mean-effect (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test p=0·02 compared with p=0·0000007). The beta-regression method suggested the intervention was more cost-effective, estimating an INB of £736 per person, compared with £584 when applying the mean-effect. InterpretationAlternative regression specification methods should be considered when evaluating the cost-effectiveness of interventions if the key intervention outcomes are not normally distributed. However, this alternative method requires further investigation to conclude its appropriateness in evaluating cost-effectiveness in different contexts. FundingNational Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Programme Grants for Applied Research Programme (Reference Number RP-PG0216-20010).

New York Presbyterian-Brooklyn Methodist Hospital's Quality Improvement Project Targeting High A1C Levels.

Quality Improvement Success Stories are published by the American Diabetes Association in collaboration with the American College of Physicians and the National Diabetes Education Program. This series is intended to highlight best practices and strategies from programs and clinics that have successfully improved the quality of care for people with diabetes or related conditions. Each article in the series is reviewed and follows a standard format developed by the editors of Clinical Diabetes. The following article describes a Brooklyn, NY, hospital's initiative to reduce high A1C rates among its patients.

SAT120 Effects Of Long Term Diabetes Education Program On HBA1C In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract Disclosure: K. Dash: None. N. Kumari: None. M. Harpal: None. T. Surekha: None. B. A. t: None. Introduction: As per IDF 2022, 537 million adults (20-79 years) are living with diabetes &amp; the number is increasing in an alarming way. 1in 10 people are suffering from diabetes and over 3 in 4 adults with diabetes live in low and middle-income countries. Adequate control of the disease is required by educating patients and developing their skills to manage their treatment to prevent complications through continue diabetic education program (DEPs). Aim &amp; Objectives: To measure the change in HBA1C, FBG &amp; PPBG (primary end point) value, who are in continue DEPs [ Sugar 360 (long term, 1 year sugar plan), Sugar 90 (long term-6 months sugar plan) vs. conventional method (SA-1- short term sugar plan, only one visit )with normal follow up] along with standard of care treatment. Secondary end points such as total cholesterol and body weight were also taken into consideration. Methods: Data of 100 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients who had attended diabetes OPD &amp; had at least two follow ups having knowledge about diabetes were included in the study. Visual impairment, psychological impairment and newly diagnosed DM patients were excluded from the study. Data on biochemical parameters of metabolic control such as FBG, PPBG, HBA1c, total cholesterol, TG &amp; BMI were collected. Within subjects design non-parametric and for quantitative data repeated measures ANOVA was used. Results: Mean age is 51.32 years in DEPs patients and mean age is 57.29 years in conventional treatment patients. Significant decrease in HBA1c (9.1% vs. 7.2%), FBG (161.2 mg/dl vs. 119.1 mg/dl), PPBG (244.6 mg/dl vs. 172.2 mg/dl), total cholesterol (175.8mg/dl vs. 159.8mg/dl) &amp; triglyceride (217.5 mg/dl vs. 182.1 mg/dl) were noted in the follow up visit in both groups. However patients on DEPs has better adherence to the follow-up visits and better understanding of disease, blood glucose control measures and lifestyle change. Conclusion: Intensive DEPs was found useful &amp; effective as regards to biochemical than compared with normal conventional treatment in terms of adherence knowledge &amp; control of disease. Presentation: Saturday, June 17, 2023

Preliminary efficacy of an acceptance-based diabetes education (ACT-DE) programme for people with type 2 diabetes on diabetes distress and self-care behaviours: A pilot randomised controlled trial

BackgroundDiabetes distress is often characterised by aversive feelings about diabetes and avoidance of diabetes self-care, leading to suboptimal blood glucose control, diabetes complications and depression. Evidence from a recent review has indicated the potential efficacy of acceptance-based diabetic self-management programmes for improving blood glucose levels and mental health outcomes by fostering psychological flexibility. MethodsWe conducted a two-arm and assessor-blinded pilot randomised controlled trial (RCT) with 48 participants aged 18–64 with type 2 diabetes and moderate distress levels, in which we compared a 6-week acceptance and commitment therapy and diabetes education (ACT-DE) programme intervention with diabetes education. Diabetes distress (the primary outcome), self-care behaviour, self-efficacy in diabetes management, and psychological inflexibility were measured at baseline and post-intervention. Focus group interviews were conducted to explore the intervention group's perceptions of the benefits and limitations of the intervention. ResultsResults of ANCOVA test showed that the intervention group exhibited significantly greater decrease in diabetes distress (effect size [Cohen's d] = 0.65), and increase in exercise frequency (d = 1.16), and foot-care frequency (d = 0.59) than the diabetes education group. The qualitative feedback of the intervention group revealed that the learnt ACT skills can be effectively applied in self-care and highlighted the utility of some of the intervention's therapeutic components, primarily mindfulness practices, metaphors, and interactive diabetes education. The intervention was well-accepted, with an 87.5% completion rate, but caution is needed due to a low recruitment rate (28.1%) during COVID-19 pandemic peak. ConclusionThis pilot study confirmed that ACT-DE programme is an acceptable intervention for people with type 2 diabetes. It demonstrated preliminary efficacy with medium-to-large effect sizes in alleviating the participants’ diabetes distress and improving their self-care. Recruitment strategies can be improved to enhance the feasibility. Moreover, a full-scale RCT with longer-term follow-up is warranted to examine the intervention effects on diabetes distress, blood glucose control and other health outcomes.

A Diabetes Education App for People Living With Type 2 Diabetes: Co-Design Study.

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a growing global health concern, including in Singapore. Diabetes education programs have been shown to be effective in improving health outcomes and diabetes self-management skills. Mobile health apps have emerged as useful tools for diabetes education; however, their use and acceptance by the target population remain inconsistent. Therefore, end-user participation in the design and development of a mobile health app is crucial for designing an acceptable app that can improve outcomes for populations with a chronic disease. The objective of this study was to apply an end-user participatory approach to co-design a diabetes education app prototype for people living with T2D by exploring their perceptions, acceptance, and usability of an app prototype, as well as their diabetes experience and perspectives on digital diabetes education. A total of 8 people with T2D, who were recruited from diabetes management Facebook groups, participated in 4 web-based surveys via Qualtrics and 2 structured interviews via Zoom (Zoom Video Communications, Inc) between August 20, 2021, and January 28, 2022. Descriptive statistics and thematic analyses of the discussion and iterative feedback on the app prototype were used to assess the participants' perceptions of living with T2D, attitudes toward digital diabetes education, and acceptance of the prototype. Analyses of the surveys and interview data revealed 3 themes: challenges of living with T2D; validation, acceptability, and usability of the diabetes education app prototype; and perspectives on digital diabetes education. In the first theme, participants highlighted the importance of solitary accountability, translating knowledge into practice, and developing pragmatic self-consciousness. The second theme indicated that the diabetes education app prototype was acceptable, with information and appearance being key; revealed ambivalent and polarized opinions toward the chatbot; and confirmed potential impact of the app on diabetes self-management skills and practice. The third theme comprised the necessity of using a variety of information-seeking strategies and recommendations for desired content and app qualities, including accessibility, adaptability, autonomy, evidence-based design and content, gamification, guidance, integration, personalization, and up-to-date content. The findings were used to reiterate the app design. Despite a small sample size, the study demonstrated the feasibility of engaging and empowering people living with T2D to consider digital therapeutics for diabetes self-management skills and practice. Participants gave rather positive feedback on the design and content of the app prototype, with some recommendations for improvements. The findings suggest that incorporating end-user feedback into app design can lead to the creation of feasible and acceptable tools for diabetes education, potentially improving outcomes for populations with a chronic disease. Further research is needed to test the impact of the refined diabetes education app prototype on diabetes self-management skills and practice and quality of life.

The relationship between diabetes burden and health-related quality of life in elderly people with diabetes

BackgroundOne of the most common chronic diseases in the elderly is diabetes. When diabetes is not well controlled, it can cause complications and affect health-related quality of life. Determining the burden of diabetes in elderly patients can provide a good health-related quality of life. AimThe study was conducted to examine the relationship between diabetes burden and health-related quality of life in elderly patients with diabetes. MethodsThis is a descriptive and correlational study of 207 patients who applied to the diabetes outpatient clinics of a private and a public hospital in Istanbul. Respondents were completed with “Personal Information Form for Elderly People”, “Elderly Diabetes Burden Scale” and the “Quality of Life in the Elderly Scale”. Data were analyzed by SPSS. The tests used are Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal Wallis and Spearman Correlation tests. ResultsThe mean total score from the Elderly Diabetes Burden Scale was 47.13 ± 11.95 (18−88), and the mean score from the Quality of Life in the Elderly Scale was 19.36 ± 7.00. In the study, as the total diabetes burden score of the elderly patients increased, the Quality of Life in the Elderly Scale score decreased. There was a difference between the mean total score of the Elderly Diabetes Burden Scale and gender, education, living alone and using oral antidiabetic (p < 0.05). ConclusionsAs a result it was determined, a negative correlation was found between the diabetes CASP-19 scale total score and the total EDBS. Determining the burden of diabetes and affecting factors in elderly is important in terms of increasing the health-related quality of life. It may be recommended to plan diabetes education programs that will reduce the burden of diabetes and increase the health-related quality of life in elderly patients.

Nutrition and Diabetes Education Program for Older Diabetic Patients Through Telenutrition in Rural and Urban Communities in Honduras Using PRIDE (Partnership to Improve Diabetes Education) Tool Kit from Vanderbilt University

Nutrition and Diabetes Education Program for Older Diabetic Patients Through Telenutrition in Rural and Urban Communities in Honduras Using PRIDE (Partnership to Improve Diabetes Education) Tool Kit from Vanderbilt University

Implementation of Diabetes Education and Support in Appalachia.

Limited research on diabetes education and support implementation in Appalachia, which is a critical knowledge gap considering barriers to care, and high prevalence rates. The aim was to understand what each facility is providing regarding diabetes education and services within West Virginia. This study reports cognitive interview qualitative findings from a multi-methods study. Individuals were recruited through an online search to identify clinics, organizations, and hospital staff that provided diabetes education in the state of West Virginia. Eligible participants were individuals who facilitated and managed diabetes education and support in counties of West Virginia. The interviews followed an 11-item interview guide, approved, and reviewed by a practicing Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care Education Specialist in West Virginia. All qualitative data from the interviews were hand-coded using grounded theory, by two researchers. 15 participating organizations from the state of West Virginia were included and described three phenomena: Diabetes Education Implementation (differences in: evaluation measures, modality, delivery format, topical areas); Barriers to Care (staffing, lack of training, evaluation, loss of research partnerships and funding); and Facilitators to Care (community-based involvement, interdisciplinary collaboration, capacity building (trainings). There are concerns with program drift and "risky" adaptations such as inconsistent evaluative measures, lack of training for program facilitators, variety of delivery formats, and content material. Findings recommend more alignment in program delivery to better implementation. Further studies should assess patient experiences with implemented diabetes education programs in West Virginia to further support the current research findings.

Improving Planning for Transition to Adult Care in a Pediatric Diabetes Clinic.

Quality Improvement Success Stories are published by the American Diabetes Association in collaboration with the American College of Physicians and the National Diabetes Education Program. This series is intended to highlight best practices and strategies from programs and clinics that have successfully improved the quality of care for people with diabetes or related conditions. Each article in the series is reviewed and follows a standard format developed by the editors of Clinical Diabetes. The following article describes efforts at a large midwestern pediatric health system to improve planning for patients' transition from pediatric to adult diabetes care settings.

A qualitative study on the perceived benefits of back to basics-diabesties session among individuals with type 1 diabetes mellitus and caregivers in India

Abstract Aim: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder that makes self-care challenging for T1DM individuals and their caregivers. This qualitative study aimed to explore the perceived benefits of the Back to Basics-Diabesties (B2B) session among T1DM individuals and their caregivers in India. Materials and Methods: The B2B session is a structured intervention provided through telephonic peer counseling, aimed at enhancing the understanding of T1DM that provides practical knowledge of diabetes management, insulin administration, blood glucose monitoring, diet, exercise, and psychosocial aspects of living with T1DM. Overall, more than 1560 participants (T1DM/caregivers/family/friends) have opted for B2B session. A qualitative telephonic interview was conducted (n = 96) using a semistructured open-ended questionnaire to collect data on the perceived benefits of B2B session. The information obtained was then coded, and grouped to form themes. Results: According to T1DM individuals, B2B sessions enhanced diabetes knowledge and confidence, self-management abilities, increased sense of community and peer support, and easy accessibility. Caregivers reported that the B2B session provided emotional support, disease knowledge, shared experiences, practical ideas, and coping strategies. Most widely appreciated salient feature of B2B session was the peer counselors were themselves with T1DM or caregivers of T1DM, which created unbreakable trust among the study participants. Clinical evidence after B2B session showed a 23% of improvement in the glycated hemoglobin (&lt;8%) and nearly 8% of drop in hypoglycemic events and 17% of drop in hyperglycemic episodes. Conclusion: This study shows the benefits of peer counseling, which could help healthcare professionals and policymakers improve diabetes education and support programs for T1DM patients and their caregivers in India.

Implementation and evaluation of a longitudinal diabetes educational programme for adolescents

IntroductionInternational guidelines recommend structured and continuous educational programmes to expand diabetes knowledge and self-efficacy in youth. To address these recommendations within a paediatric diabetes clinic, we conducted a three-phase quality...

Exploring facilitators and barriers to patient-provider communication regarding diabetes self-management

ObjectiveLong-term type 2 diabetes management requires open communication between a patient and their provider for self-care adherence. This study explored facilitators and barriers to diabetes-specific communication in West Virginia, a medically underserved state with the highest prevalence of diabetes (16.2%) in the U.S. MethodsA secondary qualitative analysis was conducted using data from semi-structured interviews (n = 34) and 4 focus groups (n = 23) with participants of a diabetes education program. Transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis. ResultsThree facilitators to patient-provider communication emerged: “Patient-Provider Partnership”, “Provider Accessibility”, and “Empowerment Through Education”. Partnership with providers, especially those who were accessible outside of scheduled appointments, and empowerment obtained through diabetes education facilitated diabetes-specific patient-provider communication. However, barriers included “Providers' Focus on ‘Numbers' Rather than Patient Concerns”, “Patient Lack of Preparation for Appointments”, and “Providers ‘Talking Down to’ Patients”. ConclusionThe findings highlight patient- and provider-related factors that impact diabetes-specific communication. InnovationPrevious interventions have trained providers in communication skills. Despite some success, challenges in implementation remain considering providers' limited time and overwhelming demands. This study suggests that diabetes education programs incorporating communication and self-advocacy skills could be a promising alternative as they can empower patients to communicate their diabetes-specific needs/preferences with providers.

35-LB: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on A1C Reductions in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus Who Attended an ADA-Recognized DSMES Program

AM Diabetes Centers of America, an independent endocrinology practice in Bartlett, Tennessee, offers a diabetes self-management, education, and support (DSMES) program that has been recognized by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) since 2010. The program typically serves 450-500 participants per year, all from the Memphis/Mid-South area. Per ADA requirements, participants’ pre- and post-program attendance glycated hemoglobin (A1C), weight, blood pressure, and lipids, are reported annually. Of these, A1C was observed as a key metric indicating blood glucose control. Data sets from ADA Chronicle Diabetes were analyzed quantitatively to compare program attendance and A1C reductions between 2013-2019 and the pandemic peak in 2020-2021. From 2013-2018, program attendance grew at an average rate of 26% per year. Attendance dropped by 30% in 2019, but average A1C reduction among participants in 2019 was 0.8%, and average A1C reduction for all participants in 2013-2019 was 0.64% (SD=0.346; p=0.003). In 2020-2021, attendance dropped by an average of 30% per year, and average A1C reduction was only 0.45% (SD=0.05; p=0.035). In the first post-pandemic year, program attendance rebounded by 18% and average A1C reduction was 1.1%. Because a direct correlation exists between waning program attendance and reduced impact upon participants’ A1C levels during COVID-19, and because these trends reversed as soon as pandemic restrictions were lifted, it may be reasonably ascertained that the mandated restrictions on in-person meetings and outside activities were key factors in producing these results. Disclosure K. B. Stoneking: None. K. Latif: None. M. Moore: None. H. White: None.

Expanding Diabetes Specialty Care in a Community Primary Care Practice Center.

Quality Improvement Success Stories are published by the American Diabetes Association in collaboration with the American College of Physicians and the National Diabetes Education Program. This series is intended to highlight best practices and strategies from programs and clinics that have successfully improved the quality of care for people with diabetes or related conditions. Each article in the series is reviewed and follows a standard format developed by the editors of Clinical Diabetes. The following article describes an effort to expand access to specialty diabetes care for underserved residents in southeastern Dallas County, TX.

Team-Based Diabetes Care in Ontario and Hong Kong: a Comparative Review.

There are gaps in implementing and accessing team-based diabetes care. We reviewed and compared how team-based diabetes care was implemented in the primary care contexts of Ontario and Hong Kong. Ontario's Diabetes Education Programs (DEPs) were scaled-up incrementally. Hong Kong's Multidisciplinary Risk Assessment and Management Program for Diabetes Mellitus (RAMP-DM) evolved from a research-driven quality improvement program. Each jurisdiction had a mixture of non-team and team-based primary care with variable accessibility. Referral procedures, follow-up processes, and financing models varied. DEPs used a flexible approach, while the RAMP-DM used structured assessment for quality assurance. Each approach depended on adequate infrastructure, processes, and staff. Diabetes care is most accessible and functional when integrated team-based services are automatically initiated upon diabetes diagnosis within a strong primary care system, ideally linked to a register with supports including specialist care. Structured assessment and risk stratification are the basis of a well-studied, evidence-based approach for achieving the standards of team-based diabetes care, although flexibility in care delivery may be needed to meet the unique needs of some individuals. Policymakers and funders should ensure investment in skilled health professionals, infrastructure, and processes to improve care quality.