Effects of a community based self-help management program for diabetic patients

Purpose: This study was done to assess the effects of a self-help intervention on clinical, lifestyle and psychosocial outcomes in people with type II diabetes. Methods: Eligible adults with type II diabetes were randomly assigned to receive either the diabetes self-help group intervention (intervention group) or usual care (control group). Of the 36 patients who completed the study, 15 were in the diabetes self-help group intervention and 21 were in the usual care only. The self-help group received of six weekly sessions covering aspects of diabetes self-care including continuing education, discussion, and structured social activities. Outcomes included changes in glycemic control, knowledge, self-management behaviors, diabetes related self-efficacy, and health-related quality of life. We used analysis of covariance to compare outcomes between groups adjusting for baseline measures. Results: Significant improvements from baseline to 6 weeks were observed in measures of self-management behaviors, diabetes related self-efficacy, and health-related quality of life in the intervention group. Conclusions: The findings provide preliminary evidence that a diabetes self-help group intervention can have benefits on self-management behaviors, diabetes related self-efficacy, and health-related quality of life for patients with diabetes. However, larger longitudinal studies are needed to determine the most efficacious self-management method to sustain long-term glycemic control and psychological well-being.