A Theory-Based Self-Management Training Program for Older Adult Peer Leaders with Diabetes: A Feasibility Assessment

Automated Personalized Self-care Program for Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Pilot Trial

PURPOSE

Providing continuous self-care support to the growing diabetes population is challenging. Strategies are needed to enhance engagement in self-care, utilizing innovative technologies for personalized feedback. This study aimed to assess the feasibility of the Automated Personalized Self-Care program among type 2 diabetes patients and evaluate its preliminary effectiveness.

METHODS

A parallel randomized pilot trial with qualitative interviews occurred from May 3, 2022, to September 27, 2022. Participants aged 40-69 years with type 2 diabetes and HbA1c ≥ 7.0% were recruited. The three-month program involved automated personalized goal setting, education, monitoring, and feedback. Feasibility was measured by participants' engagement and intervention usability. Preliminary effectiveness was examined through self-care self-efficacy, self-care behaviors, and health outcomes. Qualitative interviews were conducted with the intervention group.

RESULTS

A total of 404 patients were screened. Out of the 61 eligible patients, 32 were enrolled, resulting in a recruitment rate of 52.5%. Retention rates at three months were 84.2% and 84.6% in the intervention and control groups, respectively. Among the intervention group, 81.3% satisfied adherence criteria. Mobile application's usability scored 66.25, and participants' satisfaction was 8.06. Intention-to-treat analysis showed improvements in self-measured blood glucose testing, grain intake, and HbA1c in the intervention group. Qualitative content analysis identified nine themes.

CONCLUSION

Feasibility of the program was verified. A larger randomized controlled trial is needed to determine its effectiveness in self-care self-efficacy, self-care behaviors, and health outcomes among type 2 diabetes patients. This study offers insights for optimizing future trials assessing clinical effectiveness.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Clinical Research Information Service, KCT0008202 (registration date: 17 February 2023).

Effectiveness of restricted diet with a plate in patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

In view of the complexity of dietary and nutritional education for most patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a simplified approach called the "restricted diet with a plate" or "plate model" is recommended.

PURPOSE

To evaluate whether the plate model can effectively improve glycemic control and cardiovascular risk markers in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), while reducing the time devoted to education and avoiding weight gain.

METHODS

The study was a randomized, multicenter, controlled study, conducted between October 2018 and October 2019, among patients with T2DM living in Nanjing. The study included 419 participants who were randomly divided into a plate group and a counting group. The plate model included three components: a low-literacy, color leaflet containing the explanation and composition of the plate model, health education, and medical visits. Patients in the counting group received health education, group medical visits, and a paper booklet containing traditional carbohydrate counting education. Primary outcomes were glycemic control and weight.

RESULTS

Participants in the plate model reduced HbA_1c by 0.7% in the first three months, and reduced to a greater extent at six months (1.44%), but this was not sustained, and HbA_1c increased slightly over the following six months. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and 2-h postprandial glucose (2hPG) values were significantly reduced at the endpoint in the plate model (9.25 ± 1.72% vs. 7.44 ± 0.88%, P = 0.008; 12.07 ± 2.94 vs. 8.35 ± 1.99%; P = 0.004); however, the 2hPG values decreased most significantly. Total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels decreased significantly in the plate group, which occurred at six months and lasted for 12 months. In the first three months, the average weight loss in the plate group was 1.2 kg/month (95% CI 0.92-1.48), and in the fourth to twelfth months, the average weight gain was 0.21 kg/month (95% CI 0.08-0.34). There was significant difference in education time between the groups (17.3 ± 4.42 vs. 38.6 ± 12.63; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The plate model is at least as effective as the counting model over the short term for glycemic control and perhaps even better for weight and lipid control. Plate model has the potential to improve education of those with low health literacy by reducing reading demands.

Precision health care strategies for older adults with diabetes in Indonesia: a Delphi consensus study

BACKGROUND Studies on precision health care for older adults with diabetes in Indonesia are still limited. This study was aimed to reach the experts consensus on the suitable precision health care strategies for older adults with diabetes. METHODS A total of 10 experts (4 physicians, 4 nurses, and 2 dietitians) agreed to participate in the 3-round interview using Delphi technique. The experts should have at least 5 years of experience in teaching or working as health professionals in a hospital. RESULTS Consensus was reached that precision health care consisted of eight elements: self-management, interdisciplinary collaborative practice, personalized genetic or lifestyle factors, glycemic target, patient preferences, glycemic control, patient priority-directed care, and biodata- or evidence-based practice. The strategies of precision health care for diabetes were divided into seven steps: conducting brief deducting teaching; assessing self-management level and risk of cardiovascular disease; organizing a brainstorming session among patients to exchange experiences on glycemic target and specific target behavior; making a list of patients’ needs and ranking the priorities; setting a goal and writing action; doing follow-up; and reporting the goal attempts. CONCLUSIONS The eight elements of precision health care provided the basis of precision health care strategies for diabetic older adults, which are the real and measurable strategies for precision health care implementation in clinical settings.