Efficacy of ongoing group based diabetes self-management education for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A randomised controlled trial

ObjectiveTo evaluate the efficacy of ongoing group based diabetes self-management education (DSME) for patients with type 2 diabetes.Methods146 patients were randomised to either group education or waiting list control. Primary outcomes were A1C and patient activation measured with patient activation measure (PAM).ResultsThere were no differences in the primary outcomes between the groups at 12 months, but the control group had an increase in A1C of 0.3% points during follow-up. Diabetes knowledge and some self-management skills improved significantly in the intervention group compared to the control group. A sub group analysis was conducted for the quartile with the highest A1C at baseline (>7.7, n = 18 in both groups). There were significant improvements within the intervention group at 12 month follow-up for both A1C and PAM and a trend for better outcome in the intervention group compared to the control.ConclusionsThe locally developed ongoing diabetes self-management education programs prevented an increase in A1C and can have an effect on A1C in patients with higher A1C level.Practice implicationsLocally developed programs may be less effective than programs developed for studies.