The Impact of Initiatives in Education,Self-Management Training,and Computer-Assisted Self-Care on Outcomes in Diabetes Disease Management

The purpose of this work is to elucidate the advantages and disadvantages arising from three distinct diabetes disease management initiatives in a managed care setting. The initiatives included (1) education alone, (2) education with self-management training, and (3) education with computer-assisted self-care. Outcomes of interest were changes in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), body weight, and costs of care in each cohort of care recipients. A total of 978 health plan members with diabetes within a mixed model HMO were included in the initiatives for improving blood glucose control. HbA1c was measured at baseline and at 3 and 12 months, body weight at baseline and 12 months, and costs of care over 1 year. Costs were derived from suppliers and the health plan. The design is a longitudinal observation study. With the education-alone initiative, costs, HbA1c, and body weight were unchanged. When education is supplemented with ongoing self-management training, HbA1c fell 1.1% (p < 0.01), body weight rose by 11 kg (p < 0.01), and costs for care increased by $18 per member per month. When education is supplemented with ongoing computer-assisted self-care, HbA1c also dropped by 1.1% (p < 0.01), body weight was unchanged (p > 0.4), and costs for care were $1.31 per member per month. All initiatives improved glycated hemoglobin. Other outcomes must therefore be considered. Among the initiatives, this study elucidated significant differences in body weight and costs. Therefore, in choosing a diabetes disease management program, it would appear that costs should be the primary consideration and methodologies that control body weight should be a priority.