Effectiveness of the diabetes education and self management for ongoing and newly diagnosed (DESMOND) programme for people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes: cluster randomised controlled trial.

Description

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a structured group education program on biomedical, psychosocial, and lifestyle measures in people with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. This randomized controlled trial was composed of 437 participants with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes who attended a diabetes education and self-management for ongoing and newly diagnosed (DESMOND) program (intervention group) and of 387 participants with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes but who were allocated to usual care (control group). This study evaluated HbA1c levels, blood pressure, body weight, blood lipid levels, smoking status, physical activity, quality of life, beliefs about illness, depression, and emotional impact of diabetes at baseline and up to 12 months. It provides evidence that a structured group education program for patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes can cause greater improvements in weight loss, physical activity levels, smoking status, and depression as well as positive change in illness beliefs. However, the authors did not observe significant differences in HbA1c levels. In summary, this remarkable trial demonstrates that a structured group education program focusing on behaviour change can successfully engage patients to make additional effective lifestyle changes over 12 months from diagnosis.