Abstract:
This study was aimed to assess the effectiveness of diabetes self-management education (DSME) in the improvement of glycemic
control among patients with type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) in Batticaloa District, Sri Lanka. The study was a prospective
interventional study and conducted as a preliminary study at medical clinic, Base hospital, Kaluwanchikudy, Batticaloa. Thirty
patients with T2DM were included based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. A structured individual diabetes self-management
education for 10 hours (one hour per week) was delivered to diabetic patients by the trained Nurse Health Educator. Glycosylate
hemoglobin (HbA1c) was assessed as a main outcome measure and Fasting Blood Sugar (FBS), Body Mass Index (BMI) of each
patient were also measured and recorded before and after the intervention. The respondent rate was 96.7% (n = 29). Majority of
them were females (n = 25, 86.2%). A Wilcoxon signed rank test showed that DSME had a statistically significant reduction in
HbA1c [8.60 (IQR 2.60) vs. 7.40 (IQR 2.10), p = .000] and FBS level [159.00 (IQR 77.50) vs. 134.00 (IQR 40.50), p = .002] at 3
months of intervention. The mean BMI at baseline was higher compared to 3 months of intervention [24.88 (SD ± 3.06) vs.
24.19 (SD ± 2.79)] which was statistically significant (p = .000). Majority of participants (n = 22, 75.9%) had improved their
HbA1c level by ≥ 0.5% in 3 months. The diabetes self-management education is an effective measure in improving glycemic
control and other clinical parameters among patients with T2DM. Thus, DSME needs to be implemented among clinic patients
with T2DM for the better outcome and the preventions of complications.
