Diabetes Self-Management Education, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM)
Conditions
Keywords
type 2 diabetes mellitus, education, telemedicine, glycaemic control
Brief summary
Type 2 diabetes requires active self-management from the time of diagnosis, but participation in traditional face-to-face diabetes self-management education is often limited by access-related and personal barriers. Online education may provide a more flexible and accessible way to deliver structured diabetes education, particularly for newly diagnosed adults who need timely support in understanding and managing their condition. This study evaluated the effects of online diabetes self-management education compared with traditional face-to-face education on diabetes knowledge retention, body mass index (BMI), and HbA1c in adults newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who were not receiving antidiabetic medication. A total of 123 participants were included: 49 participants received online diabetes self-management education, 52 participants received traditional face-to-face education, and 22 participants who declined education formed a non-randomized control group. Diabetes knowledge was assessed at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at three-month follow-up, while BMI and HbA1c were measured at baseline and follow-up. At three-month follow-up, both online and traditional education groups showed significantly greater diabetes knowledge compared with the control group. The online education group also showed better immediate post-intervention knowledge than the traditional education group. Both education groups had significant reductions in BMI from baseline to follow-up, while no significant short-term effect on HbA1c was observed.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALOnline Diabetes Self-Management Education
Participants attended a 60-minute interactive online diabetes self-management education program delivered through a Moodle learning platform using H5P interactive content. The program consisted of five modules: Diabetes Treatment and Management, Recommendations for Healthy Eating with Diabetes, Physical Activity Recommendations, Diabetes Complications and Diabetic Foot, and Planning Lifestyle Modifications. The intervention was designed to improve diabetes-related knowledge and support self-management among adults newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
BEHAVIORALTraditional Face-to-Face Diabetes Self-Management Education
Participants attended a 60-minute face-to-face diabetes self-management education session conducted in small groups of 4-6 participants. The educational content covered diabetes treatment and management, healthy eating recommendations, physical activity recommendations, diabetes complications and diabetic foot care, and planning lifestyle modifications. The intervention was designed to improve diabetes-related knowledge and support self-management among adults newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
Sponsors
University of Primorska
Study design
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Adults aged 18 years or older. * Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus within the previous 1 month. * Ability to access and use information and communication technology devices (smartphone, computer, or tablet). * Proficiency in the language used for the educational intervention. * Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
* Pregnancy. * Current treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus with antidiabetic medication (oral agents, injectable medications, or insulin). * Previous participation in a diabetes self-management education program. * Presence of concomitant diseases or treatments that could affect blood glucose levels (e.g., cancer or corticosteroid treatment). * Visual impairment, cognitive impairment, literacy difficulties, or manual dexterity limitations that could interfere with participation. * Development of any exclusion criterion during the study period. * Deterioration in health status or occurrence of events that, in the opinion of the investigators, warranted discontinuation from the study.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire (DKQ24) Score | Baseline, immediately post-intervention, and 3 months after intervention. | Change in diabetes-related knowledge measured using the 24-item Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire (DKQ24). Scores range from 0 to 24, with higher scores indicating greater diabetes knowledge. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Body Mass Index (BMI) | Baseline and 3 months after intervention. | Change in body mass index (kg/m²) from baseline to follow-up. |
| Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c) | Baseline and 3 months after intervention | Change in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels from baseline to follow-up. |
Countries
Slovenia
Outcome results
None listed