The Science of Diabetes Self-Management and Care

The purpose of the study was to determine the feasibility of implementing A1C self-testing at home using the A1CNow® Self Check and to compare the accuracy of the A1CNow to a reference standard in African Americans with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

African American adults with T2D were recruited from 13 different churches (N = 123). Phase 1, conducted during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, examined the feasibility of A1C assessment using the A1CNow performed at home by untrained participants. Phase 2, conducted when in-person research resumed, compared A1C values concurrently measured using the A1CNow and the DCA Vantage™ Analyzer (reference standard) collected by research staff at church testing sites.

In Phase 1, 98.8% of participants successfully completed at least 1 at-home A1C test; the overall failure rate was 24.7%. In Phase 2, the failure rate of staff-performed A1CNow testing was 4.4%. The Bland-Altman plot reveals that A1CNow values were 0.68% lower than DCA values, and the mean differences (A1CNow minus DCA) ranged from −2.6% to 1.2% with a limit of agreement between −1.9% to 0.5%.

A1C self-testing is feasible for use in community settings involving African American adults with T2D. The A1CNow Self-Check underestimated A1C values when compared with the reference standard. Ongoing improvements in point-of-care devices have the potential to expand research and clinical care, especially in underserved communities.

The purpose of this study was to compare diabetes psychosocial comorbidities among adults with type 1 diabetes (T1D) across the United States during the onset of COVID-19 pandemic.

Adults with T1D from 4 main US geographic regions including South (n = 367), West (n = 234), Northeast (n = 250), and Midwest (n = 247) completed a cross-sectional online survey between April and June 2020. Data collection was done on psychosocial measures, glycemic variability, sociodemographic characteristics, and various challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Chi-square, Fisher’s exact, Kruskal-Wallis tests, ordinary least squares, proportional odds, and ordinal logistic regression methods were used for data analysis.

In the South, 51.2% of participants had moderate to high levels of diabetes distress, and this was significantly (P = .03) higher than other regions. Northeast region had the lowest prevalence of moderate to severe diabetes burnout (19.8%), but this was not significantly different compared to the other regions. Participants in the South had also the highest mean score on the 8-item Patient Health Questionnaire, with 30.3% of them reporting moderate to severe depressive symptoms. However, there were no significant differences in depressive symptoms among the regions. Glycemic control, demographic characteristics, and COVID-19-related challenges were associated with different psychosocial comorbidities in different regions.

When providing information and support to individuals with diabetes in time of crisis like the COVID pandemic, providers should consider psychosocial aspects of diabetes care. Diabetes disparities and contextual factors vary geographically in the United States; these factors may impact the psychosocial comorbidities of diabetes in each region.

The purpose of the study was to understand care partner (CP) perceptions of an interdisciplinary diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) intervention and explore how the interdisciplinary DSMES intervention influences diabetes-specific day-to-day interactions from the CP’s perspective.

A multiple-methods research design comprised of an online survey including demographics and supportive behaviors and a semistructured interview was conducted. The survey was completed by 16 CPs. Of the 16 CPs, 11 participated in semistructured interviews. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Thematic analysis of semistructured interviews was conducted.

CPs provided support in 3 primary areas: (1) meal planning and preparation (87.5%), (2) participating in physical activity (56.3%), and (3) assisting with technology (43.8%). The main themes described by CPs include (1) the importance of diabetes education for caregivers, including the information they retained from the program, the acquisition of tools to support the person with diabetes, and the desire for more and ongoing education; (2) diabetes education enhances the CP’s ability to provide social support and the challenges associated with support; and (3) partners described collaborative diabetes management such as finding middle ground and making changes together.

CPs play a significant role in patient diabetes self-management by providing social support and partnership. DSMES programs should seek to include CPs to enhance patient support.

The purpose of this study is to characterize mothers’ experiences within a mother/infant dyad postpartum primary care program (Dyad) following gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) to inform improvements in the delivery of care.

A qualitative pilot study of women (n = 10) enrolled in a mother/infant Dyad program was conducted in a primary care practice at a large, urban academic medical center. Respondents were asked a series of open-ended questions about their experience with GDM, the Dyad program, and health behaviors. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using ground theory with NVivo 12 Plus software.

Three key themes emerged: (1) Dyad program experience, (2) implementation of health behavior changes, and (3) acknowledgment of future GDM and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) health risks. Respondents felt that the program conveniently served mother and infant health care needs in a single appointment. Respondents also valued support from primary care providers when implementing health behavior changes. The Dyad program provided an opportunity for respondents to understand their current and future risk for developing GDM and T2DM.

Postpartum women enrolled in the Dyad program received highly personalized primary care services. The results of our study will help integrate patient-centered strategies into models for GDM care to maintain patient engagement in postpartum clinical services.

To analyze economic savings and health impacts associated with a virtual digitally enhanced diabetes self-management education and support (DSMES) program.

Participants (n = 1,494) were nonpregnant adults with diagnosed type 2 diabetes and baseline body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m² (23 kg/m² if of Asian descent) or higher who enrolled in virtual DSMES between February 2019 and April 2020 for at least 4 months. Participants’ changes in glycated hemoglobin (A1C) and body weight were calculated as the difference between program start and last recorded values between months 4 and 6. Outcomes for all participants were analyzed; subanalyses were done on 628 participants with starting A1C >7% (53 mmol/mol), who could benefit most from DSMES. Markov-based microsimulation approach was used to model the potential reductions in diabetes sequalae and medical expenditures if observed improvements in A1C and BMI were maintained.

DSMES participants with starting A1C >7% experienced average reductions of 0.9% A1C and 2.1 kg of body weight (−1.7% of BMI) within 6 months. If these improvements were maintained, simulated outcomes include reduced 5-year onset of ischemic heart disease by 9.2%, myocardial infarction by 10.6%, stroke by 12.1%, chronic kidney disease by 16.5%, and reduced onset of other sequelae. Simulated cumulative reduction in medical expenditures is $1160 after 1 year, $4150 after 3 years, $7790 after 5 years, and $18 020 after 10 years.

Participation in virtual DSMES improves A1C and body weight, with the potential to slow onset of diabetes sequelae and reduce medical expenditures.

The purpose of this study was to gain a better understanding of real-world hypoglycemia experiences from people living with diabetes.

An exploratory cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of 374 English-speaking adults affected by diabetes using an online survey was conducted.

Participant mean age was 37 years with an average diabetes duration of 21 years. On average, participants reported feeling hypoglycemia at 64 mg/dL (3.6 mmol/L), worrying about hypoglycemia at 63 mg/dL (3.5 mmol/L), and treating hypoglycemia at 72 mg/dL (4 mmol/L). Terminology used by study participants did not match the current classifications of hypoglycemia used in clinical research. Participants who have been told they have hypoglycemia unawareness treat at a significantly lower level compared to those without hypoglycemia unawareness. Only 58% always carry hypoglycemia treatment; there was a relationship with increasing age and always carrying hypoglycemia treatment. Thirty-eight percent of participants treat hypoglycemia with the recommended 15 g of carbohydrate (CHO). Survey respondents who wore continuous glucose monitors reported using significantly less CHO to treat hypoglycemia.

In the real world, experiences related to feeling, worrying about, and treating hypoglycemia trend higher than what is noted in the standardized hypoglycemia classifications. Study findings have implications for teaching and supporting people with diabetes who experience hypoglycemia. Consuming less CHO to treat hypoglycemia could lead to fewer episodes of rebound hyperglycemia and less weight gain. Increased support for continuous glucose monitoring is warranted.