Effect of structured individual and combined education on blood glucose regulation in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Although various approaches have been used in diabetes self-management education (DSME) programs, the effect of DSME programs on glycemic control is controversial. This study aimed to compare the effects of structured individual education and combined education on glycemic regulation in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study included T2DM patients who applied to the Ust Kaynarca Diabetes Center between 1 January 2018 and 11 March 2020. All data were retrospectively evaluated from hospital information systems. Patients who received only individual education were defined as the individual education group (IEG), and patients who received both individual and group education were defined as the combined education group (CEG). A total of 496 T2DM patients, with 248 (50.0%) in the IEG and 248 (50.0%) in the CEG, were included in the study. The change in HbA1c (ΔHbA1c) value for the IEG was 1.0% (2.5%), while the ΔHbA1c value for the CEG was 1.9% (2.8%) (P < 0.001). When factors affecting the glycemic control were evaluated, it was determined that the type of education [odds ratio (OR) = 2.295, P < 0.001], gender (OR = 1.799, P = 0.007), presence of hyperlipidemia (OR = 0.559, P = 0.032) and presence of medications added to treatment (OR = 1.558, P = 0.041) were effective on glycemic control. Combined education, in which individual and group education are conducted together, is more effective than individual education in glucose regulation.