Structured Diabetes Education Research Articles

Diabetes self-management: a qualitative study of education needs, practices and caregiver support in the Keta Municipality of Ghana

IntroductionA major part of diabetes management involves patients’ self-management. Poor self-management increases the risk of complications from the condition. Good self-management requires appropriate and adequate education and caregiver support, typically...

Delivery of Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating (DAFNE) in the UK and Ireland 2019-2022

Background To date, evaluations of the structured diabetes education programme, Dose Adjustment for Normal Eating (DAFNE), have focused on improvements in clinical and psychosocial outcomes, however, little is known about implementation and participant attendance across centres. We compared participant profile, course delivery and retention across Irish and UK centres and patterns of course delivery pre and during Covid-19. Methods Data collected annually by DAFNE centres (01.01.2019 to 01.01.2022) were analysed. Multivariable logistic regression assessed the association between demographic (age, gender) and clinical variables (years since diagnosis; DKA requiring admission in past 12 months; severe hypoglycaemic event (hypo) in the last year), course format and country, with non-completion (attended <5 sessions). Results Overall, 6749 people attended DAFNE courses across 91 centres in 3 years. Compared to Ireland, UK-based course attendees were slightly older on average and had diabetes for longer. In 2019 (pre-Covid), 86 centres delivered an average of 10 courses per centre (range: 1 to 30). During Covid (2020) when remote format courses were first offered, 79 centres delivered an average of 5 courses per centre (1 to 15). Overall, 10% of participants did not complete. Younger age, having a severe hypo in the last year, and attending a remote course (vs. standard 5-day face-to-face) were associated with non-completion. Conclusions Course delivery varies widely across centres. This may reflect centre size and resource availability. Although participant non-completion was low, our data do not capture those who withdraw pre-course. Future work should explore barriers and facilitators of course acceptance and retention.

Understanding the diabetes self-care behaviour in rural areas: Perspective of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and healthcare professionals.

Diabetes self-care behaviour plays a crucial role in managing the diabetes effectively and preventing complications. Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and health care professionals (HCPs) of rural areas often face unique challenges when it comes to diabetes self-care practices (SCPs). Therefore, this study aim to explore the perspectives of patients with T2DM and HCPs on diabetes SCPs. Eight focus group discussions (FGDs) among individuals with T2DM and In-depth interviews (IDIs) with 15 HCPs were conducted in rural areas of Punjab, North India. Capability, Opportunity, Motivation, and Behaviour model (COM-B) was employed for thematic framework analyses. The study participants perceived that a limited understanding of diabetes mellitus (DM), beliefs in alternative therapies, drug side effects, attitudes towards DM (psychological capability), comorbidities (physical capability), family support (social opportunity), financial and time constraints, and weather conditions (physical opportunity) contributed to lack of DM SCPs. Physicians' guidance and support were motivating them to adhere to SCPs, especially when aligned with their sense of self-efficacy (reflective motivation). HCPs constraints in providing patient-centred care are due to training limitations (psychological capability) and a lack of essential resources (physical opportunities). Participants expressed need for comprehensive diabetes care (automatic motivation) through structured diabetes education intervention to improve diabetes SCPs. The study findings indicate that various factors influence diabetes SCPs from the perspectives of both patients with T2DM and HCPs and emphasizes the need for a multi-faceted approach to improve diabetes SCPs in rural areas. Implementing a structured diabetes self-care intervention strategy in rural areas may help for preventing and mitigating the impact of diabetes-related complications in rural areas.

Holistic Person-Centered Care for Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

In 2022, the American Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes emphasized that type 2 diabetes care is a person-centered holistic care concept. This article summarizes the concepts of holistic care for individuals with type 2 diabetes and proposes a complete model of the six-layer whole-person care circle for individuals with type 2 diabetes. This model treats individuals with type 2 diabetes as the core of care and adopts their specific needs, preferences, and values to design individualized care plans. The overall goal of care is to maintain quality of life and to avoid or delay complications. Management methods must be holistic. Based on people and comprehensive considerations, six circles of care are listed. The first layer is caregivers, taking into account the influence of the family and the community on the individual. The second layer is multi-professional and multi-disciplinary team care, which provides support to individuals with diabetes. The third layer emphasizes the need for the following thirteen principles in diabetes care: monitoring and screening for complications, behavior modification for healthy habits, monitoring and continuous assessment, reducing the risk of hypoglycemia, effective implementation and care organization, considering underlying physiological conditions, avoiding therapeutic inertia, considering social determinants of health, psychological factors, structured diabetes education, language proficiency, shared decision-making, and considering regional healthcare institutions and related resources. The fourth layer is the decision cycle of care, which applies the principles of care and conducts continuous and dynamic case management based on the decision cycle. The fifth layer is the healthcare network through which health providers provide hospital, long-term care, and primary clinics/ primary network care referrals based on the needs of individual with diabetes. The sixth layer leverages the chronic care model to construct a supportive healthcare system comprising organizational support, clinical information systems, delivery system design, decision support, self-management support, and community resources. This proposed model may provide a reference for constructing healthcare systems to care for patients with type 2 diabetes.

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.

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.

Integrated Care for Type 1 Diabetes: The West Bengal Model.

A structured dedicated health programme for Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) has been initiated in the state of West Bengal, India. The aim is to provide comprehensive healthcare to all children, adolescents and young adults living with T1DM, along with the provision of free supply of insulin, glucose measuring devices, blood glucose test strips, and other logistics. The strategic framework for programme implementation is to utilise the infrastructure and manpower of the already existing non-communicable disease (NCD) clinic under National Health Mission. Establishing dedicated T1DM clinics in each district hospital by utilising existing healthcare delivery systems, intensive training and hand-holding of named human resources; providing comprehensive healthcare service and structured diabetes education to all T1DM patients; and building an electronic registry of patients are important components of the programme. T1DM clinics run once a week on the same day throughout the state. All T1DM patients are treated with the correct dose of insulin, both human regular insulin and glargine insulin. Patients are routinely monitored monthly to ensure good glycaemic control and prevent complications of the disease. Routine anthropometric examination and required laboratory investigations are conducted in the set-up of the already existing NCD clinic. Ongoing monitoring and evaluation of the T1DM programme are being conducted in terms of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) values, growth and development, complication rates, psychological well-being, quality of life, and direct and indirect expenditure incurred by families. Through this programme, any bottlenecks or gaps in service delivery will be identified and corrective measures will be adopted to ensure better health outcomes for those living with T1DM.

Improving diabetes care: findings from the first National Diabetes Inpatient Audit undertaken in a mental health setting

Background/Aims There has been no national audit of diabetes care provided in mental heath inpatient settings. This research was undertaken to reveal a snapshot of prevalence, services provided and the education delivered to both staff and patients, and in turn identify areas to improve care. Methods West London NHS Trust participated in the pilot mental health National Inpatient Diabetes Audit. A cross-sectional review of diabetes care on 11 wards informed the provision of a safe patient-centred high-quality diabetes service. Results The prevalence of diabetes was 23%. Almost all care was undertaken by non-specialist staff, none of whom received regular ward-based training for diabetes. A minority of staff knew how to access emergency diabetic services, and 75% of patients did not receive any structured diabetes education. Patient satisfaction scores were high. Staff requested more opportunities to access diabetes educational resources. Conclusions Diabetic care can be improved by modelling existing best practice from physical healthcare settings and by increasing diabetes education. Further data regarding evidence of safety, harms and quality is required to inform the development and commissioning of services to achieve the best diabetic care for this particularly vulnerable patient group.

Can digital health apps provide patients with support to promote structured diabetes education and ongoing self-management? A real-world evaluation of myDiabetes usage.

Structured diabetes education has evidenced benefits yet reported uptake rates for those referred to traditional in-person programmes within 12 months of diagnosis were suboptimal. Digital health interventions provide a potential solution to improve diabetes education delivery at population scale, overcoming barriers identified with traditional approaches. myDiabetes is a cloud-based interactive digital health self-management app. This evaluation analysed usage data for people with type 2 diabetes focusing on digital structured diabetes education. Descriptive quantitative analyses were conducted on existing anonymised user data over 12 months (November 2019-2020) to evaluate whether digital health can provide additional support to deliver diabetes education. Data was divided into two equal 6-month periods. As this overlapped the onset of COVID-19, analyses of its effect on usage were included as a secondary outcome. All data was reported via myDiabetes. Users were prescribed myDiabetes by National Health Service healthcare primary care teams. Those who registered for app use within the study period (n = 2783) were assessed for eligibility (n = 2512) and included if activated. Within the study period, n = 1245/2512 (49.6%) registered users activated myDiabetes. No statistically significant differences were observed between gender (p = 0.721), or age (p = 0.072) for those who activated (59.2 years, SD 12.93) and those who did not activate myDiabetes (57.6 years, SD 13.77). Activated users (n = 1119/1245 (89.8%)) viewed 11,572 education videos. No statistically significant differences were observed in education video views across age groups (p = 0.384), gender (p = 0.400), diabetes treatment type (p = 0.839) or smoking status (p = 0.655). Comparison of usage pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 showed statistically significant increases in app activity (p ≤0.001). Digital health is rapidly evolving in its role of supporting patients to self-manage. Since COVID-19 the benefits of digital technology have become increasingly recognised. There is potential for increasing diabetes education rates by offering patients a digital option in combination with traditional service delivery which should be substantiated through future research.

Structured Outpatient Diabetes Education and Telehealth Follow-up to Improve HbA 1c.

More than 10% of Americans have diabetes, with higher rates in Hispanics and African Americans. National Healthy People 2030 goals for expected decrease in HbA 1c levels have not been met. No standardized diabetes education or follow-up existed at a free clinic. Patients exhibited diabetic self-management inadequacies and elevated HbA 1c levels. A pre/postimplementation study design was used to evaluate changes in HbA 1c levels, medication adherence, missed appointments, and emergency department visits. Structured diabetes education and follow-up text/phone messages for patients with HbA 1c levels 8% or higher were implemented over 3 months. Outcome data were available for 27 of the 34 participants. Postimplementation, there was a significant 1.7% decrease in mean HbA 1c levels ( P < .001). No significant differences were found for the other outcome measures. Structured diabetes education and follow-up text/phone messages in a free clinic improved patients' HbA 1c levels.

Management of Individuals With Diabetes at High Risk for Hypoglycemia: An Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline.

Hypoglycemia in people with diabetes is common, especially in those taking medications such as insulin and sulfonylureas (SU) that place them at higher risk. Hypoglycemia is associated with distress in those with diabetes and their families, medication nonadherence, and disruption of life and work, and it leads to costly emergency department visits and hospitalizations, morbidity, and mortality. To review and update the diabetes-specific parts of the 2009 Evaluation and Management of Adult Hypoglycemic Disorders: Endocrine Society Clinical Practice Guideline and to address developing issues surrounding hypoglycemia in both adults and children living with diabetes. The overriding objectives are to reduce and prevent hypoglycemia. A multidisciplinary panel of clinician experts, together with a patient representative, and methodologists with expertise in evidence synthesis and guideline development, identified and prioritized 10 clinical questions related to hypoglycemia in people living with diabetes. Systematic reviews were conducted to address all the questions. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology was used to assess the certainty of evidence and make recommendations. The panel agreed on 10 questions specific to hypoglycemia risk and prevention in people with diabetes for which 10 recommendations were made. The guideline includes conditional recommendations for use of real-time continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and algorithm-driven insulin pumps in people with type 1 diabetes (T1D), use of CGM for outpatients with type 2 diabetes at high risk for hypoglycemia, use of long-acting and rapid-acting insulin analogs, and initiation of and continuation of CGM for select inpatient populations at high risk for hypoglycemia. Strong recommendations were made for structured diabetes education programs for those at high risk for hypoglycemia, use of glucagon preparations that do not require reconstitution vs those that do for managing severe outpatient hypoglycemia for adults and children, use of real-time CGM for individuals with T1D receiving multiple daily injections, and the use of inpatient glycemic management programs leveraging electronic health record data to reduce the risk of hypoglycemia. The recommendations are based on the consideration of critical outcomes as well as implementation factors such as feasibility and values and preferences of people with diabetes. These recommendations can be used to inform clinical practice and health care system improvement for this important complication for people living with diabetes.

CHOICE - structured diabetes education programme for children and young people in northern ireland

Searchable abstracts of presentations at key conferences in endocrinology ISSN 1470-3947 (print) | ISSN 1479-6848 (online)

P8.022: Structured Diabetes Education: Significance Among Kidney Transplants Recipients With Post-transplant Diabetes

P8.022: Structured Diabetes Education: Significance Among Kidney Transplants Recipients With Post-transplant Diabetes

Current practices and future preferences of type 2 diabetes care in Ethiopia: A qualitative study on the perspectives of patients, health professionals, and policymakers

Background and aimsThis study aimed to examine perspectives of patients, health professionals, and policymakers on current practices and their future preferences for type 2 diabetes care in a tertiary hospital in Ethiopia. MethodsAn exploratory qualitative study was undertaken through interviews and focus groups with patients, health professionals, and policymakers. The participants were purposively sampled. Thematic analysis was undertaken. ResultsFifty-nine participants were involved in the study. Participants' perspectives on current practices and future preferences comprised three themes: organisation of type 2 diabetes care delivery and infrastructure; continuity of care; and structured diabetes education. The current organisation comprised physicians, such as endocrinologists and endocrinology fellows, and nurses. Some nurses received training on diabetes foot and diabetic eye, which enabled patients to receive diabetes foot and diabetic eye care, respectively. The hospital lacked essential resources, such as medications, laboratory and diagnostic services, and diabetes educators, which hindered patient-centred care. Patients complained that the physical set-up at the hospital was not conducive to their privacy during consultations. Participants reported infrequent patient follow-up and monitoring, which contributed to uncontrolled diabetes. Future preferences involved access to essential resources and comprehensive diabetes care, such as structured diabetes education for improved patient outcomes. Participants sought out the development of tailored and context-specific diabetes management approaches that could meet specific patient needs and preferences. ConclusionsThe findings have implications for designing patient-centred diabetes care tailored to the hospital's context and key stakeholders' preferences. This tailoring requires strong leadership to ensure availability of essential resources.

Pharmacists’ perceived role in supporting diabetes education and self-management in Ireland: a qualitative study

Background: Support for people with diabetes is necessary for optimal self-management. Structured diabetes education programmes fulfil this need, but attendance rates are consistently low. The role of pharmacists has expanded but the profession remains underutilised in chronic disease management. The objective of this study is to explore pharmacists’ perceived role in the support of diabetes education and self-management behaviours. Methods: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews of community pharmacists in Ireland was conducted. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Ten pharmacists were interviewed. The four themes identified illustrate the juxtaposition of pharmacists’ potential in diabetes care with the realities of current pharmaceutical practice. One theme outlined the relationship between the person with diabetes and the pharmacist, ‘Patient or customer: the nature of the pharmacist relationship’. Two themes described the pharmacists’ role in supporting diabetes education and self-management, ‘Beyond medication: pharmacists’ current and potential role in diabetes management’ and ‘Need for diabetes education’. The final theme highlighted the barriers to a more engaged role in patient care, ‘Barriers: “all the stuff that gets in the way”’. Conclusion: The relationship between pharmacists and people with diabetes could facilitate pharmacists in supporting diabetes self-management. However, variability across pharmacists’ level of involvement and consistent resource barriers were noted. Pharmacists were poorly informed about structured diabetes education programmes. Further research is needed to explore this variability but there may be potential to enhance the pharmacist role in promoting attendance at structured diabetes education programmes.

Feasibility of Virtual Simulation-Based Diabetes Foot Care Education in Patients with Diabetes in Ethiopia: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial.

IntroductionDiabetes mellitus is a rapidly growing global public health problem; the number of adults with diabetes is expected to increase from 424.9 million in 2017 to 628.6 million in 2045. Approximately 80% of diabetic patients live in low- and middle-income countries where access to care may be limited. For example, in Ethiopia, diabetes care is often rudimentary, and formal, structured diabetes education is almost non-existent. One potential solution to the lack of diabetes management education for patients could be virtual simulation-based diabetes education incorporating the contextual realities of patients in Ethiopia. Despite its great potential to improve glycemic control, delay diabetes-related complications and reduce mortality associated with diabetes, the feasibility of virtual simulation-based diabetes self-management education has not been studied in low- and middle-income settings.ObjectiveThe purpose of the current study is to evaluate the feasibility of a virtual simulation-based Diabetes Foot Care Education (DFCE) program among adult patients with diabetes in Ethiopia.MethodsA randomized controlled feasibility study including participants from University of Gondar Referral Hospital (UoGRH) will be conducted. A sample of 40 participants will be recruited, of which 20 participants will receive the virtual simulation-based education program, and the other 20 participants will continue with their usual diabetes care. After the education program, a questionnaire and structured interview will be used to explore the feasibility (acceptability, practicality) and the potential impact of virtual simulation-based DFCE intervention in patients with diabetes. Data will be analyzed using SPSS version 25 using descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, paired sample t-test, and factorial ANOVA at significance levels of less than 0.05.DiscussionOur study seeks to understand the perceived usefullness and usability of virtual simulation-based diabetes foot care education on behavioural (diabetes foot-care knowledge, foot self-care practices, and foot self-care efficacy). Furthermore, the study will provide insight to assist in the development of technologically assisted and contextually designed DFCE programs.Trial Registration NumberNCT04841291 (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier).

Effect of Structured Diabetes Education on Diabetic Angiopathies Among Kidney Transplant Recipients With Posttransplant Diabetes: Kuwait Experience

Diabetes knowledge among kidney transplant recipients with posttransplant diabetes has not been exhaustively assessed. Here, we evaluated the effects of structured diabetes education on development of diabetic micro- and macroangiopathies in kidney transplant patients with posttransplant diabetes. This prospective randomized controlled study categorized 210 renal transplant patients with posttransplant diabetes mellitus into 2:1 groups according to type of diabetes education. Group 1 (n = 140) received structured education, and group 2 (n = 70) received conventional education. Patient data were collected through patient identification and metabolic control parameter forms. Most patients in groups 1 and 2, respectively, were Kuwaiti (60.7% vs 58.6%), men (57.9% vs 68.6%), and had high school-level education (43.6% vs 48.6%). Chronic glomerulonephritis was the original disease in 36.4% versus 35.4% of patients. Most patients (72.8% vs 78.6% in group 1 vs 2) received pretransplant hemodialysis. At study start, the rate of patients with diabetic neuropathy was comparable between groups (32.4% vs 27.9%). Moreover, after completion of 24 months of education, neurological evaluation by electromyograph and nerve conduction studies did not show any significant differences between the groups (P > .05). Similarly, the number of patients with fundus imaging showing retinopathy was comparable between groups at start and end of study (P > .05). Although macroangiopathic events were higher in group 1, this finding was not significant (P > .05). However, although the percentage of patients with nephropathy was comparable in both groups at start of study, the percentage decreased significantly in group 1 at 24 months after completion of education compared with group 2 and baseline value (P = .016). Structured diabetes education was associated with reduced diabetic nephropathy but had no significant effects on other micro- or macroangiopathies. However, we recommend education for all kidney transplant recipients with diabetes.

Development of a Complex Intervention for Effective Management of Type 2 Diabetes in a Developing Country.

There has been little focus on designing tailored diabetes management strategies in developing countries. The aim of this study is to develop a theory-driven, tailored and context-specific complex intervention for the effective management of type 2 diabetes at a tertiary care setting of a developing country. We conducted interviews and focus groups with patients, health professionals, and policymakers and undertook thematic analysis to identify gaps in diabetes management. The results of our previously completed systematic review informed data collection. We used the United Kingdom Medical Research Council framework to guide the development of the intervention. Results comprised 48 interviews, two focus groups with 11 participants and three co-design panels with 24 participants. We identified a lack of structured type 2 diabetes education, counselling, and collaborative care of type 2 diabetes. Through triangulation of the evidence obtained from data collection, we developed an intervention called VICKY (patient-centred collaborative care and structured diabetes education and counselling) for effective management of type 2 diabetes. VICKY comprised five components: (1) patient-centred collaborative care; (2) referral system for patients across transitions of care between different health professionals of the diabetes care team; (3) tools for the provision of collaborative care and documentation of care; (4) diabetes education and counselling by trained diabetes educators; and (5) contextualised diabetes education curriculum, educational materials, and documentation tools for diabetes education and counselling. Implementation of the intervention may help to promote evidence-based, patient-centred, and contextualised diabetes care for improved patient outcomes in a developing country.

A Cross-Sectional study on risk factors for severe hypoglycemia among Insulin-Treated elderly type 2 diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) patients in Singapore

ObjectiveThis study investigates the risk factors for severe hypoglycemia among Southeast Asian T2DM patients. MethodsInsulin-treated T2DM patients greater than 65 years old with HbA1c < 8% were recruited. They completed questionnaires detailing their experience of hypoglycemia and presence of impaired hypoglycemia awareness (IAH). Data on insulin treatment regimens, glycated haemoglobin (Hba1c) and comorbidities were also collected. ResultsOf the 92 participants, 15.2% had at least one episode of severe hypoglycemia over the past year. Comparison between both groups showed that patients with severe hypoglycemia had lower Hba1c, higher Gold score (3.9 ± 1.9 vs. 2.5 ± 1.4; p < .05) and higher Hypoglycemia Fear Survey (HFS) worry score (39.1 ± 14.3 vs. 31.8 ± 11.8; p < .05). There were no significant differences in duration of diabetes and insulin treatment, treatment regimens and diabetes associated comorbidities except peripheral vascular disease. Furthermore, no significant differences were noted in HFS behavior score, hypoglycemia risk modifying behavior and social economic status. ConclusionsPatients with severe hypoglycemia had tighter glycemic control, greater IAH and higher worry scores regardless of treatment regimens. Clinicians may play a significant role in tightening glycemic control and influencing the risk of severe hypoglycemia. Standard structured diabetes education may help reduce the risk of severe hypoglycemia among this group of patients.

Brief Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Patients with Comorbid Depression and Type 2 Diabetes in an Urban Primary Care Facility: Randomized Controlled Trial

Background: The relation between depression and diabetes is bidirectional and both can lead to morbidity and mortality. Despite the success of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in managing psychiatric comorbidities, research on its use in the treatment of comorbid diabetes and depression is limited and with varying results. The aim of the study is to assess the efficacy of CBT on depressed patients with type 2 diabetes.&#x0D; Methods: This randomized controlled trial was conducted at an urban primary healthcare center in Egypt from February 2019 to March 2020 and included 80 participants. Key inclusion criteria were uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (T2D) (HbA1c &gt;7.5%) and depression symptoms diagnosed by Beck’s Depression Index. Participants were assessed for all battery of instruments. Subsequently, participants were randomized to control and treatment groups. The treatment group received four CBT sessions. Both groups received a thirty-minute structured diabetes education and their usual diabetes treatment. Three months later, all participants were reassessed for depression and diabetes compliance and all labs were performed post intervention. Both the primary (the difference in HbA1c pre-post intervention) and secondary outcomes (the change in depressive symptoms assessed) were analyzed using ANCOVA.&#x0D; Results: Both groups were matching at baseline. Post intervention, the CBT group revealed a significant reduction in depressive symptoms while adjusting for Beck Depression Index (BDI) pre-intervention [F (1, 74) = 7.074, p = 0.010]. Moreover, HBA1c was improved significantly when controlling for pre-intervention BDI scores and BMI [F (1,73) = 4.27, p = 0.042] compared to the control group.&#x0D; Conclusions: The CBT program was both inexpensive and easily accessible. It could fit very well in primary care settings. The results indicated CBT intervention was effective in improving diabetes control and depression. However, a larger-scale study to test its effect on a larger scale population and its long-term impact is recommended.