Randomised-controlled trial of a web-based dietary intervention for patients with type 2 diabetes: changes in health cognitions and glycemic control

The effectiveness of telemedicine in the management of type 2 diabetes: A systematic review

Background

Type 2 diabetes, a lifestyle-related disease demanding daily self-management, is a significant health concern. In this context, the use of telemedicine as a management tool is a relatively new and promising approach. This study aims to contribute to the growing body of knowledge by identifying the effectiveness of telemedicine in managing type 2 diabetes through a systematic review approach.

Methods

Four databases were searched including PubMed, Virtual Health Library, Global Health Library, and Google Scholar on 27 July 2022. Additionally, a manual search was performed to identify any relevant articles that may have been missed. The quality of the included articles was rigorously assessed using the Study Quality Assessment Tools of the National Institute of Health.

Results

We analyzed data from 134 articles. All 134 studies were published between 2002 and 2022, including 103 controlled intervention trials, 13 cohort studies, 7 before-after (pre-post) studies with no control group, 1 initial trial, 1 case study, 1 pilot study, and 8 two-arm studies that did not report the study design. Accordingly, most studies show positive changes in glycemic index in every group using telemedicine. Overall, although the BMI and weight indices in the studies improved at the end of the course, the improvement values were considered insignificant.

Conclusion

Telemedicine may be a valuable solution for blood sugar management in patients with type 2 diabetes. However, the effectiveness of telemedicine in improving BMI and quality of life is unclear.

The effectiveness of diabetes self-management education intervention on glycaemic control and cardiometabolic risk in adults with type 2 diabetes in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Diabetes mellitus (DM) poses a significant challenge to public health. Effective diabetes self-management education (DSME) interventions may play a pivotal role in the care of people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). A specific up-to-date systematic review is needed to assess the effect of DSME interventions on glycaemic control, cardiometabolic risk, self-management behaviours, and psychosocial well-being among T2DM across LMICs. The MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Global Health, and Cochrane databases were searched on 02 August 2022 and then updated on 10 November 2023 for published randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-experimental studies. The quality of the studies was assessed, and a random-effect model was used to estimate the pooled effect of diabetes DSME intervention. Heterogeneity (I2) was tested, and subgroup analyses were performed. Egger's regression test and funnel plots were used to examine publication bias. The risk of bias of the included studies was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomized trial (RoB 2). The overall assessment of the evidence was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. A total of 5893 articles were retrieved, and 44 studies (n = 11838) from 21 LMICs met the inclusion criteria. Compared with standard care, pooled analysis showed that DSME effectively reduced the HbA1c level by 0.64% (95% CI: 0.45% to 0.83%) and 1.27% (95% CI: -0.63% to 3.17%) for RCTs and quasi-experimental design studies, respectively. Further, the findings showed an improvement in cardiometabolic risk reduction, diabetes self-management behaviours, and psychosocial well-being. This review suggests that ongoing support alongside individualised face-to-face intervention delivery is favourable for improving overall T2DM management in LMICs, with a special emphasis on countries in the lowest income group.

Community-based intervention for managing hypertension and diabetes in rural Bangladesh

BACKGROUND

Approximately 80% of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have been reported in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). However, studies on the usefulness of educational interventions run by non-healthcare workers in combating NCDs in resource-limited areas in rural parts of LMICs are limited. This study aimed to identify the effectiveness of a community-based simple educational program run by non-healthcare trained staff for several outcomes associated with NCDs in a resource-limited area.

METHODS

Six villages in the Narail district in Bangladesh were selected, two each in the first and second intervention and the control groups, in the Narail district in Bangladesh were selected. Pre- and post-intervention survey data were collected. The first intervention group received the "strong" educational intervention that included a checklist poster on the wall, phone call messages, personalized advice papers, seminar videos, and face-to-face seminars. The second intervention group received a "weak" intervention that included only a checklist poster on the wall in their house. The outcome was the proportion of NCDs and changes in systolic blood pressure and blood sugar level. Confidential fixed-effects logistic regression and multiple linear regression were performed to identify the effectiveness of the intervention.

RESULTS

Overall, 600 participants completed the baseline survey and the follow-up survey. The mean systolic blood pressure reduced by 7.3 mm Hg (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.6-9.9) in the first intervention group, 1.9 mm Hg (95% CI - 0.5-4.2) in the second intervention group, and 4.7 mm Hg (95% CI 2.4-7.0) in the control group. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the between-group differences in the decline in systolic blood pressure were significant for the first intervention versus control (p = 0.001), but not for the second intervention versus control (p = 0.21). The between-group differences in the reduction in blood glucose after the intervention, were not significant on multiple linear regression analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Community-based educational interventions for NCDs provided by non-healthcare staff improved the outcomes of hypertension and risk behaviors. Well-designed community-based educational interventions should be frequently implemented to reduce NCDs in rural areas of low- and middle-income countries. Trial registration UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR; UMIN000050171) retrospectively registered on January 29, 2023.

The effect of mHealth program on behavior modification and health outcomes among patients with diabetes: A randomized controlled trial study

Background

Mobile health presents a promising alternative in the digital era. Mobile health apps (mHealth), when combined with the concept of self-management, are considered one of the methods for incorporating technology-based interventions into the healthcare system.

Objective

This study aimed to determine the effect of mHealth (specifically, the Diabetic Care App) on foot care behavior, dietary behavior, foot condition, and fasting blood glucose levels among patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus.

Methods

A single randomized controlled trial was conducted at a government-run primary clinic in Northern Malaysia, involving 58 patients with uncontrolled diabetes who were assigned to two groups. The intervention group received the Diabetic Care App, attended a 2-hour face-to-face session, and was included in a WhatsApp group, while the control group received standard care. Relevant assessments were conducted for both groups in Week 1 and Week 5. The study was conducted from February 2020 to November 2020, and parametric and non-parametric statistics were used for data analysis.

Results

Pretest-posttest comparisons in both groups revealed significant findings for foot care behavior (p <0.01), dietary behavior (p <0.01), and foot condition (p <0.01), except for fasting blood glucose levels. In inter-group comparisons, a significant difference was observed only in foot care behavior (p <0.01) and dietary behavior (p <0.01).

Conclusion

The results indicate that technology-based interventions are beneficial for modifying behavior, specifically in terms of foot care and dietary behavior, in this study. The study highlights the applicability of mHealth for nurses in patient education and self-management of chronic conditions. Future research should explore app utilization among patients with chronic conditions.

Clinical trial registration number

NCT04260100 (registered at https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04260100).

The Effectiveness of Telemedicine Solutions for the Management of Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review, Meta-Analysis, and Meta-Regression

BACKGROUND

Previous systematic reviews have aimed to clarify the effect of telemedicine on diabetes. However, such reviews often have a narrow focus, which calls for a more comprehensive systematic review within the field. Hence, the objective of the present systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-regression is to evaluate the effectiveness of telemedicine solutions versus any comparator without the use of telemedicine on diabetes-related outcomes among adult patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

METHODS

This review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We considered telemedicine randomized controlled trials (RCT) including adults (≥18 years) diagnosed with T2D. Change in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c, %) was the primary outcome. PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) were searched on October 14, 2020. An overall treatment effect was estimated using a meta-analysis performed on the pool of included studies based on the mean difference (MD). The revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool was applied and the certainty of evidence was graded using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) approach.

RESULTS

The final sample of papers included a total of 246, of which 168 had sufficient information to calculate the effect of HbA1c%. The results favored telemedicine, with an MD of -0.415% (95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.482% to -0.348%). The heterogeneity was great (I2 = 93.05%). A monitoring component gave rise to the higher effects of telemedicine.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, telemedicine may serve as a valuable supplement to usual care for patients with T2D. The inclusion of a telemonitoring component seems to increase the effect of telemedicine.

Effectiveness, reach, uptake, and feasibility of digital health interventions for adults with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Digital health interventions have shown promising results for the management of type 2 diabetes, but a comparison of the effectiveness and implementation of the different modes is not currently available. Therefore, this study aimed to compare the effectiveness of SMS, smartphone application, and website-based interventions on improving glycaemia in adults with type 2 diabetes and report on their reach, uptake, and feasibility.

METHODS

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched CINAHL, Cochrane Central, Embase, MEDLINE, and PsycInfo on May 25, 2022, for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) that examined the effectiveness of digital health interventions in reducing glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) in adults with type 2 diabetes, published in English from Jan 1, 2009. Screening was carried out using Covidence, and data were extracted following Cochrane's guidelines. The primary endpoint assessed was the change in the mean (and 95% CI) plasma concentration of HbA1c at 3 months or more. Cochrane risk of bias 2 was used to assess risk of bias. Data on reach, uptake, and feasibility were summarised narratively and data on HbA1c reduction were synthesised in a meta-analysis. Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation criteria was used to evaluate the level of evidence. The study was registered with PROSPERO, CRD42021247845.

FINDINGS

Of the 3236 records identified, 56 RCTs from 24 regions (n=11 486 participants), were included in the narrative synthesis, and 26 studies (n=4546 participants) in the meta-analysis. 20 studies used SMS as the primary mode of delivery of the digital health intervention, 25 used smartphone applications, and 11 implemented interventions via websites. Smartphone application interventions reported higher reach compared with SMS and website-based interventions, but website-based interventions reported higher uptake compared with SMS and smartphone application interventions. Effective interventions, in general, included people with greater severity of their condition at baseline (ie, higher HbA1c) and administration of a higher dose intensity of the intervention, such as more frequent use of smartphone applications. Overall, digital health intervention group participants had a -0·30 (95% CI -0·42 to -0·19) percentage point greater reduction in HbA1c, compared with control group participants. The difference in HbA1c reduction between groups was statistically significant when interventions were delivered through smartphone applications (-0·42% [-0·63 to -0·20]) and via SMS (-0·37% [-0·57 to -0·17]), but not when delivered via websites (-0·09% [-0·64 to 0·46]). Due to the considerable heterogeneity between included studies, the level of evidence was moderate overall.

INTERPRETATION

Smartphone application and SMS interventions, but not website-based interventions, were associated with better glycaemic control. However, the studies' heterogeneity should be recognised. Considering that both smartphone application and SMS interventions are effective for diabetes management, clinicians should consider factors such as reach, uptake, patient preference, and context of the intervention when deciding on the mode of delivery of the intervention. Nine in ten people worldwide own a feature phone and can receive SMS and four in five people have access to a smartphone, with numerous smartphone applications being available for diabetes management. Clinicians should familiarise themselves with this modality of programme delivery and encourage people with type 2 diabetes to use evidence-based applications for improving their self-management of diabetes. Future research needs to describe in detail the mediators and moderators of the effectiveness and implementation of SMS and smartphone application interventions, such as the optimal dose, frequency, timing, user interface, and communication mode to both further improve their effectiveness and to increase their reach, uptake, and feasibility.

FUNDING

EU's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme.

Potential Methods to Improve Self-management in Those with Type 2 Diabetes: A Narrative Review

CONTEXT

The ability of self-manage was important for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and it was supported and depend on the method used. We aimed to summarize the potential method of self-management to improve self-empowerment.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

To obtain the related data, 5 databases, including Scopus, Science Direct, ProQuest, CINAHL, and SAGE, were comprehensively searched. The search was done in advance using the Boolean operator. The full texts of articles presenting data on self-management methods were screened and retrieved.

RESULTS

A total of 22 studies were included in this review. Various self-management techniques were covered with primary and secondary outcomes. Primary outcomes included blood pressure, fasting blood glucose (FBG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Secondary outcomes included knowledge, self-efficacy, lifestyle habits, physical activity, diet, smoking, medical treatment, support, and health behavior. A goal-setting-oriented approach was effective in setting targets and gaining support from family members. A family-centered approach was effective in taking care of and taking good care of patients with T2DM. Strength training exercises provide patients with a choice of physical activity that can help them manage their blood sugar and blood pressure. Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) is a stress-reduction technique. The patient's acceptance of the disease and treatment for diabetes is aided by education.

CONCLUSIONS

A successful self-management method was one which balances and adapts to the patient's condition. Regardless of the age of the patients, the overall findings from the review suggest that self-management methods can help patients become healthier and improve their quality of life by controlling their hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) level.

The effect of web based type 2 diabetes education on diabetes self management

Objective

This study is a control group intervention study to determine the effect of web-based education on diabetes self-management in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Methods

The study was conducted in the Training and Research Hospital Diabetes Education Unit of Hitit University. The study was completed with 75 people (intervention 38, control 37). The data were obtained in the web site through patient identification form, self-management perception scale in diabetes, diabetes attitude, self-care scale and HbA1c, HDL, LDL values were followed by providing training and counseling. The values followed were viewed at the third and sixth months. Written permission was obtained from ethics committee and participants. The data of the study were evaluated with number, percentage, mean, pearson chi-square, independent t-test, repetitive analysis and variance analysis.

Results

Statistically significant decrease in HbA1c and LDL values, diabetes self-management scale, diabetes attitude scale and self-care scale scores were found to be significantly different between the intervention and control groups.

Conclusion

Web-based education and follow-up studies are effective in decreasing HbA1c values in increasing diabetes self-management skills of individuals with type 2 diabetes. It is recommended to use as a complementary tool in health care services for type 2 diabetes management.

Exploring engagement with a web-based dietary intervention for adults with type 2 diabetes: A mixed methods evaluation of the T2Diet study

BACKGROUND

Improved understanding of participant engagement in web-based dietary interventions is needed. Engagement is a complex construct that may be best explored through mixed methods to gain comprehensive insight. To our knowledge, no web-based dietary intervention in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) has previously used a mixed methods approach. The aim of this study was to explore factors that may contribute to effective engagement in a web-based dietary program for people with T2D.

METHODS

This study employed a mixed methods intervention design, with a convergent design embedded for post-intervention evaluation. The convergent design collected and analyzed quantitative and qualitative data independent of each other, with the two datasets merged/compared during results/interpretation. Quantitative data collected from intervention group participants (n = 40) were self-administered questionnaires and usage data with average values summarized. Qualitative data were participant semi-structured interviews (n = 15) incorporating a deductive-inductive thematic analysis approach.

RESULTS

The results from the quantitative and qualitative data indicated positive overall engagement with the web-based dietary program. Factors that contributed to effective engagement were sustained frequency and intensity of engagement; structured weekly program delivery; participants affective engagement prior to and during the intervention, with positive affective states enhancing cognitive and behavioral engagement; and participants experience of value and reward. In addition, the user-centered development process employed prior to intervention delivery played an important role in facilitating positive engagement outcomes.

CONCLUSION

This study yielded novel findings by integrating qualitative and quantitative data to explore engagement with a web-based dietary program involving people with T2D. Effective engagement occurred in this intervention through a combination of factors related to usage and participants' affective, cognitive and behavioral states. The engagement outcomes that emerged will be useful to current and future researchers using digital technologies to deliver lifestyle interventions for T2D or other chronic health conditions.

Effectiveness of dietary interventions delivered by digital health to adults with chronic conditions: Systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Digital health interventions may facilitate management of chronic conditions; however, no reviews have systematically assessed the effectiveness of dietary interventions delivered by digital health platforms for improving dietary intake and clinical outcomes for adults with diet-related chronic conditions.

METHODS

Databases CINAHL, CENTRAL, Embase and MEDLINE were searched from inception to April 2021 to identify controlled trials for dietary education delivered by digital health (mobile or electronic health) to adults with diet-related chronic conditions. Random effects analysis was performed for diet quality, food groups, nutrients and clinical outcomes. Screening, data extraction and quality checking were completed in duplicate.

RESULTS

Thirty-nine studies were included involving 7333 participants. Significant changes were found for Mediterranean diet adherence score (standardised mean difference [SMD] = 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.18 to 1.40), overall fruit and vegetable intake (mean difference [MD]: 0.63 serves/day; 95% CI = 0.27-0.98), fruit intake alone (MD = 0.58 serves/day; 95% CI = 0.39 to 0.77) and sodium intake (SMD = -0.22; 95% CI = -0.44 to -0.01). Improvements were also found for waist circumference [MD = -2.24 centimetres; 95% CI = -4.14 to -0.33], body weight (MD = -1.94 kg; 95% CI = -2.63 to -1.24) and haemoglobin A1c (MD = -0.17%; 95% CI = -0.29 to -0.04). Validity of digital assessment tools to measure dietary intake were not reported. The quality of evidence was considered to have low to moderate certainty.

CONCLUSIONS

Modest improvements in diet and clinical outcomes may result from intervention via digital health for those with diet-related chronic conditions. However, additional robust trials with better reporting of digital dietary assessment tools are needed to support implementation within clinical practice.

Exploring the Feasibility of an Online Diabetes Wellness Programme among Periodontitis Patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus during the COVID-19 Pandemic

There were massive interruptions, including patient visits for dietary advice and dental services, during the COVID-19 outbreak. This study assessed the feasibility of an online diabetes wellness programme among periodontitis patients with type II diabetes mellitus. Patients were grouped into the intervention group (IG) and control group (CG). At baseline and week 12, all patients answered online questionnaires on diabetes-related knowledge, physical activity, and oral impacts on daily performances (OIDP). Body weight and waist circumference were self-measured with guided instructions. Diet recalls were used to estimate dietary and added sugar intake. All patients received a weekly educational video, but the IG attended three e-consultation sessions with a dietitian (weeks 1, 3, and 8) and a dentist (week 8) via video call. A semi-structured interview was conducted to collate qualitative feedback among the IG participants at the end of the programme. A total of 24 periodontitis patients (14 IG and 10 CG) participated in this study. Among the IG patients, significant improvements in diabetes knowledge, body weight, BMI, calories, carbohydrates, fat, and added sugar intakes were observed at week 12. The CG patients only had a significant reduction in carbohydrate intake post intervention. No changes were reported in physical activity level and OIDP for both groups. Feedback received from the IG participants included convenience, practical, preferred approach during the pandemic, increased awareness and knowledge, and favourable lifestyle changes. This study demonstrates that an online diabetes wellness programme with healthcare professionals is feasible and can facilitate knowledge and lifestyle improvements that can be adapted during the crisis situation.

Dietary Management Tools Improve the Dietary Skills of Patients with T2DM in Communities

Dietary management is of paramount importance in the prevention and control of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This one-year cluster-randomized controlled trial aims to evaluate the effect of dietary management tools on the dietary skills of patients with T2DM. Twenty-two communities were randomly assigned to an intervention group and a control group, and participants in the intervention group received a food guiding booklet (G) and a dinner set (D). The frequency of dietary management tools usage was collected at baseline and every three months, and different use patterns were identified by a group-based trajectory model. A self-compiled diabetic dietary skills scale and blood glucose were collected at baseline, 3, and 12 months, and a using generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) to explore the influence factors of dietary skills and blood glucose. The finding revealed four dietary tool-usage patterns among the participants: Insist using G/D, Give up gradually G/D, Give up after use G, and Never use G/D. GLMM indicated that dietary skills were higher over time (p < 0.05), and in participants using the guiding booklet (p < 0.001) or dinner set (p < 0.001), or with higher education (p < 0.001). Additionally, blood glucose were lower among participants with higher dietary skills (p = 0.003), higher educational level (p = 0.046), and a 3000−5000 monthly income (p = 0.026). These findings support using food management tools like the guiding booklet and dinner set as a useful strategy in primary health care centers for individuals with T2DM to increase their dietary skills and blood glucose control.

Effectiveness of Therapeutic Patient Education Interventions in Obesity and Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and obesity account for the highest burden of non-communicable diseases. There is increasing evidence showing therapeutic patient education (TPE) as a clinically and cost-effective solution to improve biomedical and psychosocial outcomes among people with DM and obesity. The present systematic review and meta-analysis present a critical synthesis of the development of TPE interventions for DM and obesity and the efficacy of these interventions across a range of biomedical, psychosocial and psychological outcomes. A total of 54 of these RCTs were identified among patients with obesity and diabetes and were thus qualitatively synthesized. Out of these, 47 were included in the quantitative synthesis. There was substantial heterogeneity in the reporting of these outcomes (I2 = 88.35%, Q = 317.64), with a significant improvement noted in serum HbA1c levels (standardized mean difference (SMD) = 0.272, 95% CI: 0.118 to 0.525, n = 7360) and body weight (SMD = 0.526, 95% CI: 0.205 to 0.846, n = 1082) in the intervention group. The effect sizes were comparable across interventions delivered by different modes and delivery agents. These interventions can be delivered by allied health staff, doctors or electronically as self-help programs, with similar effectiveness (p < 0.001). These interventions should be implemented in healthcare and community settings to improve the health outcomes in patients suffering from obesity and DM.

Developing, validating, and pre-testing of a diabetic care self-management mobile health application: A technology-based intervention for patients with diabetes in Malaysia

Background

Technology-based intervention showed a promising approach to health promotion strategies. There had been limited knowledge of the existing program for technology-based intervention in promoting foot care and dietary behavior modification. Thus, a mobile app was developed as an alternative strategy for promoting foot care and dietary behavior modification.

Objective

This paper aims to elaborate on the process of developing, validating, and examining the Diabetic Care Self-Management Mobile Health Application (Diabetic Care).

Methods

There are two phases conducted. The first phase is the process of developing and validating Diabetic Care. Intervention Mapping (IM) Framework was used to guide the process of developing Diabetic Care, while in assessing validity, guidance from Kassam-Adams et al. was used. A team of experts was appointed to validate the mobile app developed. Next, the usability of Diabetic Care was conducted among ten conveniently chosen patients with diabetes in a governmental primary care clinic.

Results

The process of developing Diabetic Care was clearly explained. The Diabetic Care app showed a good I-CVI score (1.00) and general CVI score (1.00) after the expert team assessed. During the trial, two drawbacks were identified and explored to find solutions.

Conclusion

The Diabetic Care app is proven appropriate to be employed in the study. Even though there were two drawbacks encountered, however, possible solutions were able to be explored in addressing the issues. Further research should be conducted to examine the effectiveness of this mobile app in modifying foot care behavior and dietary behavior. Hence, it will assist in the translation of advanced technology in nursing care.

User-centered development of a digitally-delivered dietary intervention for adults with type 2 diabetes: The T2Diet study

BACKGROUND

Web-based interventions can help address challenges of accessibility and availability of dietary support for people with type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, concerns regarding adherence and engagement in web-based interventions have been noted. Implementing a user-centered approach to intervention development has been shown to encourage better participant engagement. The overarching aim of this paper was to describe the user-centered approach used in the T2Diet Study to develop a new web-based dietary intervention for adults with T2D, exploring strategies for enhancing adherence and engagement.

METHODS

Intervention development was based on a flexible iterative user-centered approach to enable new product development. Twenty-one adults with T2D were engaged in six guided discussion groups across four iterative development phases, alongside reference to evidence and theory throughout the process. The phases of user inquiry progressed from broad discussion on areas to support dietary needs; to design feedback on aspects of site layout; through to further feedback on aesthetics and functionality; then into a two-week field test followed by final user inquiry and participation in user experience polls. A hybrid approach of thematic data analysis was used, incorporating both a data-driven inductive approach and a deductive approach based on a priori identification of themes.

RESULTS

Group discussion across the four phases highlighted factors the participants considered may motivate them to adhere and engage, which predominantly included relevance of resources, clear and simple positive communication, and flexibility for personal tailoring. Participant feedback provided an actionable list of intervention developments and input to inform intervention structure and theoretical framework. The two-week field test highlighted factors participants valued in terms of the user experience, most notably usability and accessibility. Additionally, the field test indicated a positive user experience, with no significant usability issues identified.

CONCLUSION

This paper provided the first detailed report of a user-centered approach to iterative development in the context of a web-based T2D dietary intervention. The insights will be useful to inform future digitally-delivered dietary interventions for adults with T2D or to inform a similar user-centered approach for other chronic health conditions.

Randomised controlled trial of a web-based low carbohydrate diet intervention for adults with type 2 diabetes: the T2Diet study protocol

INTRODUCTION

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) management frequently involves a multidisciplinary care team. However, standard care for patients with T2D is the central role of the general practice physician, and consists of routine appointments to monitor glycaemic status and overall health. Dietary modification is an essential component of T2D management. Evidence suggests that a low carbohydrate diet (LCD) provides better clinical outcomes for people with T2D compared with other diets. However, providing dietary support in face-to-face settings is challenged by issues of availability and accessibility. Provided in conjunction with standard care, digital interventions can help bridge this gap. The objective of this paper is to describe the protocol of a randomised controlled trial (RCT) of a web-based intervention that will evaluate the effectiveness of standard care plus web-based LCD intervention when compared with standard care only.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

In a two-arm parallel RCT, 100 adults with non-insulin-dependent T2D aged between 40 and 89 years will be randomised to either a theoretically informed 16-week automated web-based LCD intervention plus standard care or standard care only. LCD recommendations emphasise consuming nutrient-dense whole foods and encourage a daily carbohydrate goal of 50-100 g, with an objective of achieving 10% to <26% carbohydrates from total energy intake. Assessments will take place at baseline and 16 weeks. The primary outcome will be haemoglobin A1c. Additional data collected will include dietary intake, self-efficacy, weight and height, anti-diabetes medication and dosages, and diabetes-related comorbidities. Process evaluation will consist of a mixed-methods assessment of website engagement metrics, user experience and participants' perspectives.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

All study procedures have been approved by the Deakin University Human Research Ethics Committee (2020-349). Study findings will be disseminated widely through public, professional and academic presentation and publication.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12621000096853).

The Rapid Implementation of an Innovative Virtual Diabetes Boot Camp Program: Case Study

Background

COVID-19 disrupted health care, causing a decline in the health of patients with chronic diseases and a need to reimagine diabetes care. With the advances in telehealth programs, there is a need to effectively implement programs that meet the needs of patients quickly.

Objective

The aim of this paper was to create a virtual boot camp program for patients with diabetes, in 3 months, from project conception to the enrollment of our first patients. Our goal is to provide practical strategies for rapidly launching an effective virtual program to improve diabetes care.

Methods

A multidisciplinary team of physicians, dieticians, and educators, with support from the telehealth team, created a virtual program for patients with diabetes. The program combined online diabetes data tracking with weekly telehealth visits over a 12-week period.

Results

Over 100 patients have been enrolled in the virtual diabetes boot camp. Preliminary data show an improvement of diabetes in 75% (n=75) of the patients who completed the program. Four principles were identified and developed to reflect the quick design and launch.

Conclusions

The rapid launch of a virtual diabetes program is feasible. A coordinated, team-based, systematic approach will facilitate implementation and sustained adoption across a large multispecialty ambulatory health care organization.

Effect of educational interventions on knowledge of the disease and glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

BACKGROUND

Globally, type 2 diabetes has continued to increase, now accounting for over 90% of all diabetes cases. Though the magnitude of uncontrolled glycaemic levels in patients with type 2 diabetes is steadily rising, evidence showed that effectively controlled glycaemic levels can prevent complications and improve the quality of life of these patients. As little is known about the effect of educational interventions on this population, this systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of educational interventions versus standard care on glycaemic control and disease knowledge among patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

PubMed, Google Scholar, Cochrane Library, Scopus, African Journals Online and Wiley Online Library were searched. Two authors independently assessed within-trial risk of bias in each included study using revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomised trials. A random-effects model was employed to estimate combined effect sizes. Subgroup analyses were employed to investigate possible sources of heterogeneity between studies. The overall certainty of the evidence was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation approach.

RESULTS

A total of 19 trials with 2708 study participants were included in the review. Primary outcomes (glycaemic control) were reported in 18 trials. The pooled estimated impact of educational intervention on glycaemic levels using the random-effects model was -0.83 (95% CI: -1.17 to -0.49, p<0.001). Subgroup analyses revealed greater A1c reductions in those studies with intervention duration of up to 3 months and with empirical intervention designs. Educational interventions led to significant increases in participants' knowledge of type 2 diabetes (standardised mean difference: 1.16; 95% CI: 0.71 to 1.60; I2=93%).

CONCLUSION

In the current review overall, educational interventions can potentially lead to improved glycaemic control levels in patients with type 2 diabetes despite heterogeneity across the studies. Besides, the findings showed that educational interventions could increase disease knowledge among patients with type 2 diabetes.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42020205838.

Health education interventions to promote health literacy in adults with selected non-communicable diseases living in low-to-middle income countries: A systematic review and meta-analysis

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Health illiteracy is an important contributor to the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs); in particular in settings where health illiteracy is part of a perpetuating system of risk factors. Interventions that promote health literacy may provide an important tool in the primary and secondary prevention of NCDs. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the effectiveness of health literacy interventions on health literacy in the management of patients with selected NCDs living in low-to-middle income countries (LMIC).

METHODS

Seven electronic databases were searched (October 29, 2020) for RCTs aimed at improving health literacy in adults with NCDs in LMICs. Eligible NCDs included those pertaining to cancer, cardiovascular disease (CVD), chronic respiratory disease (CRD) or Diabetes. Studies were included that explicitly focussed on improving health literacy, and reported comprehensive measures of health literacy, or components thereof (ie, knowledge, attitude or behaviour). Random-effect meta-analyses were conducted for continuous outcome measures (Hedges-g).

RESULTS

The completed search yielded 2573 unique results of which 53 unique studies met the inclusion criteria. Studies included patients with cancer (n = 1, 2%), CRD (n = 8, 15%), CVD (n = 11, 21%) or Diabetes (n = 33, 62%). A significant (P < .01) summary effect was found for disease knowledge (SES = 1.27 [n = 23, 95%CI = 1.05-1.49]), attitude (SES = 1.17 [n = 20, 95%CI = 0.88-1.47]), and behaviour (SES = 1.20 [n = 31, 95%CI = 0.94-1.46]).

CONCLUSIONS

These results support the conclusion that there is compelling evidence, in particular, for patients with Diabetes, that health-literacy interventions are effective in promoting disease knowledge, attitude and behaviour across four chronic conditions that drive the burden of NCDs.

Digital interventions self-management education for type 1 and 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

To describe and assess digital health-led diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) effectiveness in improving glycosylated hemoglobin, diabetes knowledge, and health-related quality of life (HrQoL) of Type 1 and 2 Diabetes in the past 10 years.

DESIGN

Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. The protocol was registered on PROSPERO registration number CRD42019139884.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane library, Web of Science, and Scopus between January 2010 and August 2019. Study Selection and Appraisal: Randomized control trials of digital health-led DSMES for Type 1 (T1DM) or 2 (T2DM) diabetes compared to usual care were included. Outcomes were change in HbA1c, diabetes knowledge, and HrQoL. Cochrane Risk of Bias 2.0 tool was used to assess bias and GRADEpro for overall quality. The analysis involved narrative synthesis, subgroup and pooled meta-analyses.

RESULTS

From 4286 articles, 39 studies (6861 participants) were included. Mean age was 51.62 years, range (13-70). Meta-analysis revealed intervention effects on HbA1c for T2DM with difference in means (MD) from baseline -0.480% (-0.661, -0.299), I²75% (6 months), -0.457% (-0.761, -0.151), I² 81% (12 months), and for T1DM -0.41% (-1.022, 0.208) I² 83% (6 months), -0.03% (-0.210, 0.142) I² 0% (12 months). Few reported HrQoL with Hedges' g 0.183 (-0.039, 0.405), I² 0% (6 months), 0.153 (-0.060, 0.366), I² 0% (12 months) and diabetes knowledge with Hedges' g 1.003 (0.068, 1.938), I² 87% (3 months).

CONCLUSION

Digital health-led DSMES are effective in improving HbA1c and diabetes knowledge, notably for T2DM. Research shows non-significant changes in HrQoL. Intervention effect on HbA1c was more impressive if delivered through mobile apps or patient portals. Further research is needed on the impact of DSMES on these outcomes, especially for newly diagnosed diabetes patients.

The Effects of Dietary Education Interventions on Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

As the incidence and prevalence of diabetes increases, intervention through dietary education is becoming more important for diabetes control. This systematic review examines the evidence for the efficacy of dietary education interventions on diabetes control. The study subjects were patients with type 2 diabetes, and the main outcome variable was glycosylated hemoglobin level (HbA1c). The target studies were randomized controlled trials. Thirty-six studies were included in the analysis, of which 33 were included in the meta-analysis. The effect size between dietary education and general interventions was -0.42 (n = 5639, MD = -0.42; 95% CI -0.53 to -0.31) and was significantly different (Z = 7.73, p < 0.001). When subgroup analyses were performed following the application periods, intervention methods, and intervention contents, the mean differences in 4-6-month application, individual education, and diet-exercise-psychosocial intervention were -0.51, (n = 2742, 95% CI -0.71 to -0.32), -0.63 (n = 627, 95% CI -1.00 to -0.26), and -0.51 (n = 3244, 95% CI -0.71 to -0.32), respectively. Dietary education interventions provided for at least 3 months were highly effective in controlling HbA1c levels. Regarding the education method, individualized education was more effective, and contact or non-contact education may be applied for this. Combining diet, exercise, and psychosocial intervention is more effective than diet education alone.

Lifestyle Interventions to Improve Glycemic Control in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Living in Low-and-Middle Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)

Alongside glucose lowering therapy, clinical guidelines recommend lifestyle interventions as cornerstone in the care of people living with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). There is a specific need for an up-to-date review assessing the effectiveness of lifestyle interventions for people with T2DM living in low-and-middle income countries (MICs). Four electronic databases were searched for RCTs published between 1990 and 2020. T2DM, lifestyle interventions, LMICs and their synonyms were used as search terms. Data codebooks were developed and data were extracted. Narrative synthesis and meta-analysis were conducted using random effects models to calculate mean differences (MD) and standardized mean differences (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Of 1284 articles identified, 30 RCTs (n = 16,670 participants) met the inclusion criteria. Pooled analysis revealed significant improvement in HBA1c (MD −0.63; CI: −0.86, −0.40), FBG (SMD −0.35; CI: −0.54, −0.16) and BMI (MD −0.5; CI: −0.8, −0.2). In terms of intervention characteristics, those that included promoted self-management using multiple education components (e.g., diet, physical activity, medication adherence, smoking cessation) and were delivered by healthcare professionals in a hospital/clinic setting were deemed most effective. However, when interpreting these results, it is important to consider that most included studies were evaluated as being of low quality and there was a significant amount of intervention characteristics heterogeneity. There is a need for further well-designed studies to inform the evidence base on which lifestyle interventions are most effective for glycemic control in adults with T2DM living in LMICs.

Effectiveness of eHealth Nutritional Interventions for Middle-Aged and Older Adults: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

The risk of development of chronic diseases related to poor nutrition increases with age. In the face of an aging population, it is important for health care sectors to find solutions in delivering health services efficiently and effectively to middle-aged and older adults.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to consolidate the literature that reported the effectiveness of eHealth apps in delivering nutritional interventions for middle-aged and older adults.

METHODS

A literature search from five databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Global Health) from the past 5 years was performed. Studies were selected for inclusion that used eHealth to deliver nutritional interventions to adults aged 40 years and above, and reported health and behavioral outcomes. Two independent reviewers searched for research articles and assessed the eligibility of studies to be included in the review. A third reviewer resolved disagreements on study inclusion. We also assessed the quality of the included studies using the CONSORT 2010 checklist.

RESULTS

A total of 70 studies were included for analysis. The study quality ranged from 44% to 85%. The most commonly used eHealth intervention type was mobile apps (22/70, 31%). The majority of studies (62/70, 89%) provided multicomponent health interventions, which aimed to improve nutrition and other health behaviors (eg, exercise, smoking cessation, medication adherence). Meta-analysis results indicated high and significant heterogeneity; hence, conclusions based on these results should be considered with caution. Nonetheless, the results generally showed that eHealth interventions improved anthropometric and clinical outcomes, but not behavioral outcomes such as fruit and vegetable consumption.

CONCLUSIONS

The use of eHealth apps to deliver health interventions has been increasing in recent years, and these apps have the potential to deliver health services to a larger group of people. Our findings showed that the effectiveness of eHealth apps to deliver health interventions for middle-aged to older adults was supported by the improvement of anthropometric and clinical outcomes. Future work could aim to develop research frameworks in administering eHealth interventions to address heterogeneity in this field of research.

Effects of nurse-led web-based interventions on people with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Diabetes mellitus is an expanding global health problem. Currently, the home management of diabetes is mainly led by a multidisciplinary team based on telemedicine. However, the role nurses play in it remains inconclusive. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of nurse-led web-based intervention on glycated haemoglobin, blood pressure and lipid profile in patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

An exhaustive systematic literature search was undertaken using the following databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, The Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and CINAHL. Two investigators independently extracted data and assessed the quality of the studies by examining the risk of bias and using Modified Jadad Score system. We conducted a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials that had been published from inception to July 2020, using Review Manager 5.3.

RESULTS

Eleven randomized controlled trials were selected that included 2063 participants. Meta-analyses results indicated significant effects on not only glycated haemoglobin (pooled mean difference (MD) = -0.40, 95% confidence interval (CI): -0.5 to -0.26, p < 0.00001), but also on systolic blood pressure (pooled MD = -1.91, 95% CI: -3.73 to -0.09, p = 0.04) and low density lipoprotein (pooled standardized MD = -0.29, 95% CI: -0.44 to -0.15, p < 0.0001). There were no effects of nurse-led web-based intervention on fasting blood glucose, diastolic blood pressure, high density lipoprotein, body mass index and triglycerides.

DISCUSSION

Nurse-led web-based intervention is a promising way to complement routine clinical care. However, the specific intervention content and intervention media still need to carry out large-scale well-designed randomized controlled trials. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO CRD 42020204565.

What matters when exploring fidelity when using health IT to reduce disparities?

BACKGROUND

Implementation of evidence-based interventions often involves strategies to engage diverse populations while also attempting to maintain external validity. When using health IT tools to deliver patient-centered health messages, systems-level requirements are often at odds with 'on-the ground' tailoring approaches for patient-centered care or ensuring equity among linguistically diverse populations.

METHODS

We conducted a fidelity and acceptability-focused evaluation of the STAR MAMA Program, a 5-month bilingual (English and Spanish) intervention for reducing diabetes risk factors among 181 post-partum women with recent gestational diabetes. The study's purpose was to explore fidelity to pre-determined 'core' (e.g. systems integration) and 'modifiable' equity components (e.g. health coaching responsiveness, and variation by language) using an adapted implementation fidelity framework. Participant-level surveys, systems-level databases of message delivery, call completion, and coaching notes were included.

RESULTS

96.6% of participants are Latina and 80.9% were born outside the US. Among those receiving the STAR MAMA intervention; 55 received the calls in Spanish (61%) and 35 English (39%). 90% (n = 81) completed ≥ one week. Initially, systems errors were common, and increased triggers for health coach call-backs. Although Spanish speakers had more triggers over the intervention period, the difference was not statistically significant. Of the calls triggering a health coach follow-up, attempts were made for 85.4% (n = 152) of the English call triggers and for 80.0% (n = 279) of the Spanish call triggers (NS). Of attempted calls, health coaching calls were complete for 55.6% (n = 85) of English-language call triggers and for 56.6% of Spanish-language call triggers (NS). Some differences in acceptability were noted by language, with Spanish-speakers reporting higher satisfaction with prevention content (p = < 0.01) and English-speakers reporting health coaches were less considerate of their time (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

By exploring fidelity by language-specific factors, we identified important differences in some but not all equity indicators, with early systems errors quicky remedied and high overall engagement and acceptability. Practice implications include: (1) establishing criteria for languge-equity in interventions, (2) planning for systems level errors so as to reduce their impact between language groups and over time; and (3) examining the impact of engagement with language-concordant interventions on outcomes, including acceptability. Trial Registration National Clinical Trials registration number: CT02240420 Registered September 15, 2014. ClinicalTrials.gov.

Empowerment-oriented strategies to identify behavior change in patients with chronic diseases: An integrative review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Chronic diseases in the Americas account for about 80 % (5.2 million) of all deaths. Instruments are needed to enhance knowledge, skills, behavior change and self-care attitudes drawing on patient autonomy.

OBJECTIVE

To identify empowerment-oriented strategies focused on behavioral change in patients with chronic diseases.

PATIENT INVOLVEMENT

None.

METHODS

This is an integrative review of articles published from any period until June 2020 by journals indexed in the following databases: National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health (PubMed), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), and Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS).

RESULTS

Out of 1,287 articles, 25 met our selection criteria. Reported health interventions were based on self-management and behavior change, shared decisions and a personalized collaborative process, peer support and self-confidence, as well as strategies involving educational media and health literacy.

DISCUSSION

Over 80 % of health interventions were patient-centered and focused on patient knowledge and skill development towards personal goal setting, including effective problem-solving strategy development. Behavior change is not only an outcome of education, but also implicates revisiting values, attitudes, and experiences. Knowledge is important to facilitate decision-making leading to positive outcomes in chronic disease management.

PRACTICAL VALUE

Empowerment-oriented strategies are important tools for providing trust and motivation to people with chronic diseases. Healthcare professionals should support and encourage patient empowerment as a strategy for behavior change and able to offer qualified care for shared decision making. Thus, patients will be able to participate more actively in their own health condition management and to make decisions to promote self-care.

Effect of Telemetric Interventions on Glycated Hemoglobin A1c and Management of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Systematic Meta-Review

Background

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic burden, with a prevalence that is increasing worldwide. Telemetric interventions have attracted great interest and may provide effective new therapeutic approaches for improving type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) care.

Objective

The objective of this study was to analyze the clinical effectiveness of telemetric interventions on glycated hemoglobin A_1c (HbA_1c) specifically and T2DM management generally in a systematic meta-review.

Methods

A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Web of Science Core Collection, and EMBASE databases from January 2008 to April 2020. Studies that addressed HbA_1c, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, BMI, diabetes-related and health-related quality of life, cost-effectiveness, time savings, and the clinical effectiveness of telemetric interventions were analyzed. In total, 73 randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 10 systematic reviews/meta-analyses, 9 qualitative studies, 2 cohort studies, 2 nonrandomized controlled studies, 2 observational studies, and 1 noncontrolled intervention study were analyzed.

Results

Overall, 1647 citations were identified. After careful screening, 99 studies (n=15,939 patients; n=82,436 patient cases) were selected by two independent reviewers for inclusion in the review. Telemetric interventions were categorized according to communication channels to health care providers: (1) “real-time video” interventions, (2) “real-time audio” interventions, (3) “asynchronous” interventions, and (4) “combined” interventions. To analyze changes in HbA_1c, suitable RCTs were pooled and the average was determined. An HbA_1c decrease of –1.15% (95% CI –1.84% to –0.45%), yielding an HbA_1c value of 6.95% (SD 0.495), was shown in studies using 6-month “real-time video” interventions.

Conclusions

Telemetric interventions clearly improve HbA_1c values in both the short term and the long term and contribute to the effective management of T2DM. More studies need to be done in greater detail.

Efficacy of telemedicine on glycaemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Telemedicine is defined as the delivery of health services via remote communication and technology. It is a convenient and cost-effective method of intervention, which has shown to be successful in improving glyceamic control for type 2 diabetes patients. The utility of a successful diabetes intervention is vital to reduce disease complications, hospital admissions and associated economic costs.

AIM

To evaluate the effects of telemedicine interventions on hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), body mass index (BMI), post-prandial glucose (PPG), fasting plasma glucose (FPG), weight, cholesterol, mental and physical quality of life (QoL) in patients with type 2 diabetes. The secondary aim of this study is to determine the effect of the following subgroups on HbA1c post-telemedicine intervention; telemedicine characteristics, patient characteristics and self-care outcomes.

METHODS

PubMed Central, Cochrane Library, Embase and Scopus databases were searched from inception until 18^th of June 2020. The quality of the 43 included studies were assessed using the PEDro scale, and the random effects model was used to estimate outcomes and I² for heterogeneity testing. The mean difference and standard deviation data were extracted for analysis.

RESULTS

We found a significant reduction in HbA1c [-0.486%; 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.561 to -0.410, P < 0.001], DBP (-0.875 mmHg; 95%CI -1.429 to -0.321, P < 0.01), PPG (-1.458 mmol/L; 95%CI -2.648 to -0.268, P < 0.01), FPG (-0.577 mmol/L; 95%CI -0.710 to -0.443, P < 0.001), weight (-0.243 kg; 95%CI -0.442 to -0.045, P < 0.05), BMI (-0.304; 95%CI -0.563 to -0.045, P < 0.05), mental QoL (2.210; 95%CI 0.053 to 4.367, P < 0.05) and physical QoL (-1.312; 95%CI 0.545 to 2.080, P < 0.001) for patients following telemedicine interventions in comparison to control groups. The results of the meta-analysis did not show any significant reductions in SBP and cholesterol in the telemedicine interventions compared to the control groups. The telemedicine characteristic subgroup analysis revealed that clinical treatment models of intervention, as well as those involving telemonitoring, and those provided via modes of videoconference or interactive telephone had the greatest effect on HbA1c reduction. In addition, interventions delivered at a less than weekly frequency, as well as those given for a duration of 6 mo, and those lead by allied health resulted in better HbA1c outcomes. Furthermore, interventions with a focus on biomedical parameters, as well as those with an engagement level > 70% and those with a drop-out rate of 10%-19.9% showed greatest HbA1c reduction. The patient characteristics investigation reported that Hispanic patients with T2DM had a greater HbA1c reduction post telemedicine intervention. For self-care outcomes, telemedicine interventions that resulted in higher post-intervention glucose monitoring and self-efficacy were shown to have better HbA1c reduction.

CONCLUSION

The findings indicate that telemedicine is effective for improving HbA1c and thus, glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. In addition, telemedicine interventions were also found to significantly improved other health outcomes as well as QoL scores. The results of the subgroup analysis emphasized that interventions in the form of telemonitoring, via a clinical treatment model and with a focus on biomedical parameters, delivered at a less than weekly frequency and 6 mo duration would have the largest effect on HbA1c reduction. This is in addition to being led by allied health, through modes such as video conference and interactive telephone, with an intervention engagement level > 70% and a drop-out rate between 10%-19.9%. Due to the high heterogeneity of included studies and limitations, further studies with a larger sample size is needed to confirm our findings.

Plasma Nesfatin-1: Potential Predictor and Diagnostic Biomarker for Cognitive Dysfunction in T2DM Patient

PURPOSE

Nesfatin-1 plays a crucial role in glucose metabolism and cognitive function. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between plasma nesfatin-1 levels and clinical indicators and cognitive function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

Demographic and medical history data, physical examination, and biochemical test results of 132 T2DM patients were collected. The plasma concentrations of nesfatin-1, C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), soluble triggering receptors expressed on myeloid cells 1 (sTREM1), and sTREM2 in T2DM patients were measured. Cognitive function was evaluated using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Adult (BRIEF-A). The patients were divided into two groups: a low-nesfatin-1 group (n = 75) and a high-nesfatin-1 group (n = 57) based on a plasma nesfatin-1 concentration less than or above the 50th percentile value of all the samples.

RESULTS

The results showed that plasma HbA1c levels were positively correlated with CRP, IL-6, sTREM1, and sTREM2 levels in patients with T2DM (P < 0.05). Plasma nesfatin-1 concentrations were positively associated with diabetes-related biochemical indicators including glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c), insulin, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and inflammation-related indicators including CRP, IL-6, sTREM1, and sTREM2 among patients with T2DM (P < 0.05). Moreover, T2DM patients with high nesfatin-1 levels showed higher HbA1c and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels (P < 0.05). Furthermore, T2DM patients with high nesfatin-1 levels also showed higher BRIEF-A scores (P = 0.01). Additionally, T2DM patients with high total scores of BRIEF-A (scores > 50th percentile) could be identified with a sensitivity of 59.1% and a specificity of 72.7% by nesfatin-1.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicate that plasma nesfatin-1 might be involved in the T2DM-associated comorbidities and the development of cognitive dysfunction, and the mechanism underlying this involvement is related to the imbalance in the expression of CRP, IL-6, sTREM1, and sTREM2 levels.

Telemedicine to deliver diabetes care in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective

To determine the effectiveness of telemedicine in the delivery of diabetes care in low- and middle-income countries.

Methods

We searched seven databases up to July 2020 for randomized controlled trials investigating the effectiveness of telemedicine in the delivery of diabetes care in low- and middle-income countries. We extracted data on the study characteristics, primary end-points and effect sizes of outcomes. Using random effects analyses, we ran a series of meta-analyses for both biochemical outcomes and related patient properties.

Findings

We included 31 interventions in our meta-analysis. We observed significant standardized mean differences of −0.38 for glycated haemoglobin (95% confidence interval, CI: −0.52 to −0.23; I² = 86.70%), −0.20 for fasting blood sugar (95% CI: −0.32 to −0.08; I² = 64.28%), 0.81 for adherence to treatment (95% CI: 0.19 to 1.42; I² = 93.75%), 0.55 for diabetes knowledge (95% CI: −0.10 to 1.20; I² = 92.65%) and 1.68 for self-efficacy (95% CI: 1.06 to 2.30; I² = 97.15%). We observed no significant treatment effects for other outcomes, with standardized mean differences of −0.04 for body mass index (95% CI: −0.13 to 0.05; I² = 35.94%), −0.06 for total cholesterol (95% CI: −0.16 to 0.04; I² = 59.93%) and −0.02 for triglycerides (95% CI: −0.12 to 0.09; I² = 0%). Interventions via telephone and short message service yielded the highest treatment effects compared with services based on telemetry and smartphone applications.

Conclusion

Although we determined that telemedicine is effective in improving several diabetes-related outcomes, the certainty of evidence was very low due to substantial heterogeneity and risk of bias.

Games and Health Education for Diabetes Control: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Finding methods to improve people's diabetes control and management is important to prevent its complications and maintain the quality of life. The aim of this review was to assess the effect of games on the blood glucose level (glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c)). A systematic review and meta-analysis were made. Pubmed, Scopus, and CINAHL databases were consulted in July of 2020. Ten studies were selected as a final sample, most of them being clinical trials using games to improve diabetes control. Half of the studies had samples between 8 and 14.9 years old and the other half between 57 and 65 years old. The studies informed about using applications/games for mobile phones, game consoles, and board games for diabetes education and management. The meta-analysis was performed with 4 studies showing a mean difference of 0.12 (CI 95% 0.57, 0.33) of HbA1c in favor of the intervention group with p > 0.05. Games are positive for diabetes health education and promoting healthier lifestyle, but their impact on HbA1c is low.

Impact and efficacy of mobile health intervention in the management of diabetes and hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis

With the continuous development of science and technology, mobile health (mHealth) intervention has been proposed as a treatment strategy for managing chronic diseases. In some developed countries, mHealth intervention has been proven to remarkably improve both the quality of care for patients with chronic illnesses and the clinical outcomes of these patients. However, the effectiveness of mHealth in developing countries remains unclear. Based on this fact, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the impact of mHealth on countries with different levels of economic development. To this end, we searched Pubmed, ResearchGate, Embase and Cochrane databases for articles published from January 2008 to June 2019. All of the studies included were randomized controlled trials. A meta-analysis was performed using the Stata software. A total of 51 articles (including 13 054 participants) were eligible for our systematic review and meta-analysis. We discovered that mHealth intervention did not only play a major role in improving clinical outcomes compared with conventional care, but also had a positive impact on countries with different levels of economic development. More importantly, our study also found that clinical outcomes could be ameliorated even further by combining mHealth with human intelligence rather than using mHealth intervention exclusively. According to our analytical results, mHealth intervention could be used as a treatment strategy to optimize the management of diabetes and hypertension in countries with different levels of economic development.

Web-Based Interventions for Dietary Behavior in Adults With Type 2 Diabetes: Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

Background

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is among the most prevalent noncommunicable health conditions worldwide, affecting over 500 million people globally. Diet is a key aspect of T2DM management with dietary modification shown to elicit clinically meaningful outcomes such as improved glycemic control, and reductions in weight and cardiovascular disease risk factors. Web-based interventions provide a potentially convenient and accessible method for delivering dietary education, but its effects on dietary behavior in people with T2DM are unknown.

Objective

The objective of this review was to determine the effectiveness of web-based interventions on dietary behavior change and glycemic control in people with T2DM.

Methods

Per PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, systematic literature searches were performed using Medline, Embase, The Cochrane Library, and CINAHL to retrieve papers from January 2013 to May 2019. Randomized controlled trials of web-based interventions in adults with T2DM with reported dietary assessment were included. Population and intervention characteristics, dietary guidelines and assessments, and significant clinical outcomes were extracted. Differences between groups and within groups were assessed for dietary behavior and clinical outcomes.

Results

There were 714 records screened, and five studies comprising 1056 adults were included. Studies measured dietary changes by assessing overall diet quality, changes in specific dietary components, or dietary knowledge scores. Significant improvements in dietary behavior were reported in four out of the five studies, representing healthier food choices, improvements in eating habits, reductions in carbohydrates, added sugar, sodium, saturated fat and overall fat intake, and/or increases in dietary knowledge. Three studies found significant mean reductions for hemoglobin A1c ranging from –0.3% to –0.8%, and/or weight ranging from –2.3 kg to –12.7 kg, fasting blood glucose (–1 mmol/L), waist circumference (–1 cm), and triglycerides (–60.1 mg/dL). These studies provided varied dietary recommendations from standard dietary guidelines, national health program guidelines, and a very low carbohydrate ketogenic diet.

Conclusions

This review provided evidence that web-based interventions may be an effective way to support dietary behavior change in people with T2DM, potentially leading to changes in glycemic control and other clinical outcomes. However, the evidence should be viewed as preliminary as there were only five studies included with considerable heterogeneity in terms of the diets recommended, the dietary assessment measures used, the complexity of the interventions, and the modes and methods of delivery.

Goat Milk Consumption Ameliorates Abnormalities in Glucose Metabolism and Enhances Hepatic and Skeletal Muscle AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Activation in Rats Fed with High-Fat Diets

SCOPE

Diabetes endangers health and causes serious economic impediment. The aim of this study is to identify the effects of goat milk consumption on glucose metabolism of rats with high-fat (HF) diet.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Sixty male Sprague Dawley rats are divided into five groups and fed with different diets for 24 weeks: goat-milk-based HF diet (GHF group; goat milk powder+HF diet), cow-milk-based HF diet (CHF group; cow milk powder+HF diet), HF diet, HF diet plus acarbose (HF+A group; acarbose+HF diet), and chow diet (CD group). Fasting glucose in GHF-fed rats are lower than HF-fed rats on weeks 16 and 20. GHF-fed rats display improved insulin sensitivity in oral glucose and insulin tolerance tests. Compared with HF-fed rats, glycated hemoglobin and triglycerides in GHF-fed rats are lower and high-density lipoprotein level is higher. AMP-activated protein kinase activation (AMPK) in the liver and skeletal muscle is higher in GHF rats than HF rats. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glucose 6-phosphatase protein levels in the liver are lower and hexokinase 2 protein level in the skeletal muscle is higher in GHF rats compared with HF rats.

CONCLUSION

Goat milk consumption can ameliorate abnormalities in glucose metabolism, and AMPK pathway in the liver and skeletal muscle plays an important role in the process.

Development and Efficacy of an Electronic, Culturally Adapted Lifestyle Counseling Tool for Improving Diabetes-Related Dietary Knowledge: Randomized Controlled Trial Among Ethnic Minority Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background

Ethnic minority populations exhibit disproportionately high rates of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Electronic health tools have the potential to facilitate the cultural adaptation and tailoring of T2DM education to improve the knowledge and management of diabetes mellitus (DM).

Objective

This study aimed (1) to develop an adaptable Interactive Lifestyle Assessment, Counseling, and Education (I-ACE) software to support dietitian-delivered lifestyle counseling among low-socioeconomic status (SES) ethnic minority patients with T2DM and (2) to evaluate its effect on DM-related dietary knowledge and management compared with standard lifestyle advice (SLA) in a randomized controlled trial (RCT).

Methods

The I-ACE software, developed in consultation with clinical dieticians, incorporates evidence-based dietary and physical activity (PA) recommendations and educational materials. The features and behavioral change techniques include quantitative lifestyle (dietary intake and PA) assessment and simulation, individually tailored education and recommendations, motivational interviewing, and goal setting. For the unblinded pilot RCT, 50 overweight or obese Arab adults (aged 40-62 years) with poorly controlled T2DM were recruited from primary care clinics and randomly assigned to receive 4 in-person, dietician-delivered counseling sessions over 6 months using either (1) the I-ACE tool (experimental arm) or (2) the SLA methods (comparison arm). All outcome assessments were face-to-face. DM-related dietary knowledge (primary outcome) was measured at baseline, 3, 6, and 12 months. Lifestyle and other parameters were measured before, during, and after the intervention. Multiple linear regression and repeated measures linear mixed models were used to compare the changes in study outcomes and explore time trends in between-group and within-group changes.

Results

A total of 25 participants were enrolled in each arm, of whom 24 and 21 completed the final assessment of the primary outcome in the I-ACE and SLA arms, respectively. DM-related lifestyle knowledge increased more rapidly in the I-ACE arm than in the SLA arm (P value for study arm×time interaction=.02). Within the I-ACE arm, the mean (SE) differences in added sugar and dietary fiber intakes from baseline to 12 months were −2.6% (SE 1.0%) of total energy (P=.03) and 2.7 (SE 0.0) g/1000 kcal (P=.003), respectively. The odds of engaging in any leisure PA at 12 months tended to be higher in the I-ACE arm versus SLA arm, but did not reach statistical significance (odds ratio 2.8; 95% CI 0.7-11.6; P=.16). Both arms exhibited significant reductions in HbA_1c (P value for change over time <.001).

Conclusions

The use of the I-ACE software in a 6-month, 4-session dietician-delivered lifestyle counseling intervention improved the efficiency of lifestyle education, compared with SLA, among low-SES, ethnic minority patients with T2DM. This pilot trial provides justification for conducting a large-scale trial to evaluate its effectiveness and applicability in routine clinical care among ethnically diverse populations.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01858506; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01858506.