Effects of diabetes self-management education program on lowering blood glucose level, stress, and quality of life among females with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Thailand

Abstract

Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the effect of diabetes self-management education (DSME) on lowering blood glucose level, stress, and quality of life (QoL) among female patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Thailand. Background: The burden of noncommunicable diseases has increased globally, and it has negatively affected the QoL of diabetic patients. Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted by including 77 T2DM patients selected from 2 public health centers in Thailand. The respondents were randomly selected 38 in control group and 39 in intervention group. Pretested, piloted, and validated tool were used during this study. Knowledge on blood glucose level, stress, and QoL was measured at baseline and then compared to end line after 3 months of the intervention. The effects of intervention were estimated by regression coefficient of intervention on blood glucose level and QoL. The study was ethically approved by the Chulalongkorn University, Thailand. Findings: Baseline characteristics of both the groups were similar before the start of the intervention and there were no significant differences observed in age, education, blood sugar monitoring behavior, medical checkup, knowledge, self-care, stress, and hemoglobin HbA1c (>0.05). However, blood HbA1c, stress level, and QoL among the T2DM patients had significant changes (<0.05) after the intervention. The control group was remained same and there was no statistically significant difference reported (>0.05). Conclusions: The study concluded that the designed intervention of DSME has proved effective in lowering the blood sugar level, HbA1c level, stress level, and improved QoL among T2DM patients during this limited period of time. Hence, policy-makers can replicate this intervention for diabetic patients in a similar context.

The Factor of Association of Diabetes Knowledge in Diabetes Mellitus type 2 patients

“…But, in our study, individuals who had more education had greater diabetes knowledge. Patients with higher education levels tended to have more knowledge to manage their disease, more confidence in self-management of disease, and were more likely to engage in self-management behaviors such as regular exercise, watching their diet and foot care, and adherence to medication leads to better HbA1c control [17,19]. This support by Persell and collected showed that knowledge patients were more likely to perform self-management activities, patients with T2DM would be more likely to follow a diabetes diet, to self-monitoring their blood glucose level and have regular exercise when their diabetes knowledge was improved [30].…”

“…Also, the cost of diabetes care is sharply rising in Thailand. The annual treatment of diabetes accounted for 23% of all medical costs, with the cost for treating diabetes patients reaching 4.2 times that for non-diabetes patients [17]. These statistics indicate a high mortality rate for diabetes, and economic burden for health care systems.…”

Self-Management Education to Control Blood Sugar Levels and Hba1c Value for Type 2 Diabetes Patients

“…This research was funded by Poltekkes Kemenkes Bengkulu, Indonesia. be used as an intervention for patient with type 2 diabetes (Nooseisai et al, 2021). Management of selfeducation in patients with diabetes can improve clinical outcomes indicated by the result that after four months of health education, the average HbA1C level is reduced by 12% and the average blood sugar is reduced by 12% (Lavelle et al, 2016).…”

Live experience of people with diabetes mellitus on selfmanagement during COVID-19 in remote area of Indonesia

“…Stress in diabetic patients also can decrease adherence (29). A previous study found that stress management in people with DM can also reduce the level of glucose (30,31). So, it's important to maintain stress management during COVID-19, especially for people with DM during a pandemic.…”