Effectiveness of a community-based diabetes self-management intervention for Chinese adults with type 2 diabetes: A pilot study

This pilot study examined the effects of an intervention on diabetes knowledge and self-management among adults with type 2 diabetes in Wuhan, China. A convenience sample of 29 adults with type 2 diabetes participated in a 6-week diabetes intervention in a community health center. Data on diabetes knowledge, diabetes self-management, fasting blood glucose level, blood pressure, body mass index and waist circumference were collected pre- and postintervention and at 1-month follow-up. The level of diabetes knowledge was significantly greater postintervention, increasing from a score of 12.97 (+/- 4.04) to 17.14 (+/- 3.00) and remaining at 17.03 (+/- 2.23) at 1-month follow-up; Significant improvements in self-monitoring of blood glucose and medication adherence were not found after the intervention. However, fasting blood glucose levels showed a significant decrease from baseline to postintervention and 1-month follow-up. Diabetes self-management education was thus an effective way to improve diabetes self-care in this Chinese sample.