The current diabetes education experience: Findings of a cross-sectional survey of adults with type 2 diabetes

Feasibility and Preliminary Behavioral and Clinical Efficacy of a Diabetes Education Chatbot Pilot Among Adults With Type 2 Diabetes

BACKGROUND

Diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) improves diabetes outcomes yet remains consistently underutilized. Chatbot technology offers the potential to increase access to and engagement in DSMES. Evidence supporting the case for chatbot uptake and efficacy in people with diabetes (PWD) is needed.

METHOD

A diabetes education and support chatbot was deployed in a regional health care system. Adults with type 2 diabetes with an A1C of 8.0% to 8.9% and/or having recently completed a 12-week diabetes care management program were enrolled in a pilot program. Weekly chats included three elements: knowledge assessment, limited self-reporting of blood glucose data and medication taking behaviors, and education content (short videos and printable materials). A clinician facing dashboard identified need for escalation via flags based on participant responses. Data were collected to assess satisfaction, engagement, and preliminary glycemic outcomes.

RESULTS

Over 16 months, 150 PWD (majority above 50 years of age, female, and African American) were enrolled. The unenrollment rate was 5%. Most escalation flags (N = 128) were for hypoglycemia (41%), hyperglycemia (32%), and medication issues (11%). Overall satisfaction was high for chat content, length, and frequency, and 87% reported increased self-care confidence. Enrollees completing more than one chat had a mean drop in A1C of -1.04%, whereas those completing one chat or less had a mean increase in A1C of +0.09% (P = .008).

CONCLUSION

This diabetes education chatbot pilot demonstrated PWD acceptability, satisfaction, and engagement plus preliminary evidence of self-care confidence and A1C improvement. Further efforts are needed to validate these promising early findings.

Factors Associated With Receipt of Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support for Type 2 Diabetes: Potential for a Population Health Management Approach

BACKGROUND

Population health management approaches can help target diabetes resources like Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (DSMES) to individuals at the highest risk of complications and poor outcomes. Little is known about patient characteristics associated with DSMES receipt since widespread uptake of telemedicine for diabetes care in 2020.

METHODS

In this retrospective cohort study, we used electronic medical record (EMR) data to assess patterns of DSMES delivery from May 2020 to May 2022 among adults who used telemedicine for type 2 diabetes (T2D) endocrinology care in a large integrated health system. Multilevel regression models were used to evaluate the association of key patient characteristics with DSMES receipt.

RESULTS

Of 3530 patients in the overall cohort, 401 patients (11%) received DSMES. In adjusted multivariable logistic regression, higher baseline HbA1c (odds ratios [OR] 3.10 [95% confidence interval 2.22-4.33] for HbA1c ≥9% vs <7%), insulin regimen complexity (OR 3.53 [2.59-4.80] for multiple daily injections vs no insulin), and number of noninsulin medications (OR 1.17 [1.05-1.30] per 1 additional medication) were significantly associated with receipt of DSMES, whereas rurality and area-level deprivation of patient residence were not.

CONCLUSIONS

Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support remains underutilized in this cohort of adults using telemedicine to access endocrinology care for T2D. Factors contributing to clinical complexity increased the odds of receiving DSMES. These results support a potential population health management approach using EMR data, which could target DSMES resources to those at higher risk of poor outcomes. This risk-stratified approach may be even more effective now that more people can access DSMES via telemedicine in addition to in-person care.