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Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Diabetes mellitus type 2 Patient education

Introduction

See also Diabetes Self-Management, Education, and Support Patient education is defined as “The teaching or training of patients concerning their own health needs.”[1]

Evidence of effectiveness

Evidence of effectiveness

Several systematic reviews have found benefit from diabetes education[2][3][4][5].

The Cochrane Collaboration found significant benefit from face-to-face diabetes education among patients whose HbA1c was great then 8%[5]. In the 6 studiestrials examined, there was no significant improvement of HbA1c after 12-18 months of individual face-to-face Diabetic education. However, in 3 studiestrials looking at patients with a HbA1c > 8%, individual diabetic education was found to improve the HbA1c by a weighted mean average of –0.3%. The education was face-to-face for an average of 2-4 hours. In two studies, no significant difference in HbA1c was found after 12-18 months between individual and group education.

In a second, more recent meta-analysis of 42 trials[4], there was a significant decrease in all-cause mortality in the group treated with DSME (Diabetes self-management education). This was found both with multidisciplinary team education and nurse-led education. A sub-group analysis of 20 RCTs that followed patients for over 1.5 years also found a significant decrease in all-cause mortality in the group treated with DSME. However, more research needs to be done to analyze longer-term results. “In the subgroup analyses, significant effect of DSME in reducing all-cause mortality risk among type 2 diabetes was found in those patients receiving DSME with contact hours more than 10 h, those receiving repeated DSME, those receiving DSME using structured curriculum, and those receiving DSME using in-person communication”

A key randomized controlled trial was the Look AHEAD study. The original report did not suggest cardiovascular benefit[6], but a post hoc analysis suggested benefit[7].

References

References

  1. ↑ Anonymous (2026), Patient education (English). Medical Subject Headings. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
  2. ↑ Olesen K, Folmann Hempler N, Drejer S, Valeur Baumgarten S, Stenov V (2020). “Impact of patient-centred diabetes self-management education targeting people with type 2 diabetes: an integrative review”. Diabet Med. 37 (6): 909–923. doi:10.1111/dme.14284. PMID 32124483 Check |pmid= value (help).
  3. ↑ Chrvala CA, Sherr D, Lipman RD (2016). “Diabetes self-management education for adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review of the effect on glycemic control”. Patient Educ Couns. 99 (6): 926–43. doi:10.1016/j.pec.2015.11.003. PMID 26658704.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 He X, Li J, Wang B, Yao Q, Li L, Song R; et al. (2017). “Diabetes self-management education reduces risk of all-cause mortality in type 2 diabetes patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis”. Endocrine. 55 (3): 712–731. doi:10.1007/s12020-016-1168-2. PMID 27837440.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Duke SA, Colagiuri S, Colagiuri R (2009). “Individual patient education for people with type 2 diabetes mellitus”. Cochrane Database Syst Rev (1): CD005268. doi:10.1002/14651858.CD005268.pub2. PMC 6486318. PMID 19160249.
  6. ↑ Look AHEAD Research Group. Wing RR, Bolin P, Brancati FL, Bray GA, Clark JM; et al. (2013). “Cardiovascular effects of intensive lifestyle intervention in type 2 diabetes”. N Engl J Med. 369 (2): 145–54. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1212914. PMC 3791615. PMID 23796131. Review in: Evid Based Med. 2014 Apr;19(2):64 Review in: Ann Intern Med. 2013 Oct 15;159(8):JC4
  7. ↑ Look AHEAD Research Group. Gregg EW, Jakicic JM, Blackburn G, Bloomquist P, Bray GA; et al. (2016). “Association of the magnitude of weight loss and changes in physical fitness with long-term cardiovascular disease outcomes in overweight or obese people with type 2 diabetes: a post-hoc analysis of the Look AHEAD randomised clinical trial”. Lancet Diabetes Endocrinol. 4 (11): 913–921. doi:10.1016/S2213-8587(16)30162-0. PMC 5094846. PMID 27595918.

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