Improving Attendance to Diabetes Education Classes to Lower Hemoglobin A1c in Uncontrolled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Quality Improvement Project

This quality improvement project, conducted over a one‑year period during my third year of medical school, evaluated whether direct patient outreach via an electronic health record (EHR) portal could increase attendance at structured diabetes education classes among patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus (defined as HbA1c > 9 mmol/mol). Individualized standardized invitations were sent to 150 patients across three primary care physicians within a large multi-site primary care network in Central Florida. Response rates, attendance, and barriers to participation were monitored. Of the 150 patients invited, 10 (6.7%) expressed interest, and 7 (4.7%) attended the class. Common barriers to attendance included hospitalizations and loss of insurance. While attendance rates were lower than international averages, the project demonstrated the feasibility and scalability of using low‑cost, existing infrastructure for patient engagement. Findings suggest that expanding outreach methods and implementing face‑to‑face invitations could improve participation and, ultimately, glycemic control.