Through this review , we found two key health system barriers to effective T2DM care and management : financial constraints faced by the patient and limited access to health services and medication .
This review points to the importance of reducing , or possibly eliminating , out-of-pocket costs for diabetes medication and self-monitoring supplies .
BACKGROUND Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus ( T2DM ) is reported to affect one in 11 adults worldwide , with over 80 % of T2DM patients residing in low-to-middle-income countries .
Health systems play an integral role in responding to this increasing global prevalence , and are key to ensuring effective diabetes management .
We conducted a systematic review to examine the health system-level factors influencing T2DM awareness , treatment , adherence , and control .
Diabetes Control With Reciprocal Peer Support Versus Nurse Care Management
BACKGROUND Re source barriers complicate diabetes care management . Support from peers may help patients manage their diabetes . OBJECTIVE To compare a reciprocal peer-support ( RPS ) program with nurse care management ( NCM ) . DESIGN R and omized , controlled trial . ( Clinical Trials.gov registration number : NCT00320112 ) SETTING 2 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health care facilities . PATIENTS 244 men with hemoglobin A(1c ) ( HbA(1c ) ) levels greater than 7.5 % during the previous 6 months . MEASUREMENTS The primary outcome was 6-month change in HbA(1c ) level . Secondary outcomes were changes in insulin therapy ; blood pressure ; and patient reports of medication adherence , diabetes-related support , and emotional distress . INTERVENTION Patients in the RPS group attended an initial group session to set diabetes-related behavioral goals , receive peer communication skills training , and be paired with another age-matched peer patient . Peers were encouraged to talk weekly using a telephone platform that recorded call occurrence and provided reminders to promote peer contact . These patients could also participate in optional group sessions at 1 , 3 , and 6 months . Patients in the NCM group attended a 1.5-hour educational session and were assigned to a nurse care manager . RESULTS Of the 244 patients enrolled , 216 ( 89 % ) completed the HbA(1c ) assessment s and 231 ( 95 % ) completed the survey assessment s at 6 months . Mean HbA(1c ) level decreased from 8.02 % to 7.73 % ( change , -0.29 % ) in the RPS group and increased from 7.93 % to 8.22 % ( change , 0.29 % ) in the NCM group . The difference in HbA(1c ) change between groups was 0.58 % ( P = 0.004 ) . Among patients with a baseline HbA(1c ) level greater than 8.0 % , those in the RPS group had a mean decrease of 0.88 % , compared with a 0.07 % decrease among those in the NCM group ( between-group difference , 0.81 % ; P < 0.001 ) . Eight patients in the RPS group started insulin therapy , compared with 1 patient in the NCM group ( P = 0.020 ) . Groups did not differ in blood pressure , self-reported medication adherence , or diabetes-specific distress , but the RPS group reported improvement in diabetes social support . LIMITATION The study included only male veterans and lasted only 6 months . CONCLUSION Reciprocal peer support holds promise as a method for diabetes care management
Through this review , we found two key health system barriers to effective T2DM care and management : financial constraints faced by the patient and limited access to health services and medication .
This review points to the importance of reducing , or possibly eliminating , out-of-pocket costs for diabetes medication and self-monitoring supplies .
BACKGROUND Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus ( T2DM ) is reported to affect one in 11 adults worldwide , with over 80 % of T2DM patients residing in low-to-middle-income countries .
Health systems play an integral role in responding to this increasing global prevalence , and are key to ensuring effective diabetes management .
We conducted a systematic review to examine the health system-level factors influencing T2DM awareness , treatment , adherence , and control .