The role of diabetes self-care education and practice in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)

Background
Diabetes self-care is yet to be incorporated into diabetes management policy, hence the need to establish its practice as an essential catalyst for good glycemic control in the management of diabetes patients.

Objectives
This study was aimed at determining the role of diabetes self-care education (DSME) and practice in the management of T2DM patients.

Material and methods
A hospital-based study was conducted on 120 adults with T2DM who had been presenting at the clinic for at least two months. The study participants were divided into two groups. Group 1 was the test group and had DSME, while group 2 served as the control. Data was collected using a questionnaire, and clinical parameters of glycemic control were measured both pre- and post-intervention period.

Results
A significant relationship was found between diabetes education, diabetes self-care and glycemic control. This was demonstrated by the significant difference in the proportion of those who achieved good FPG from 28.3% pre-intervention to 51.7% post--intervention (p = 0.001); 2HPP from 30% to 46.7% (p = 0.060) and HbA1c from 53.3% to 85% (p < 0.001) in the test group; while that of the control was FPG 18.3% to 30% (p = 1.355), 2HPP 11.7% to 26.7% (p = 0.369) and HbA1c 43.3% to 53.3% (p = 0.804). This showed a significant improvement in the glycemic control of the test group compared to the control group.

Conclusions
We conclude that good knowledge and practice of diabetes self-care is relevant to the achievement of good glycemic control.