Impact of diabetes education and self-management on the quality of care for people with type 1 diabetes mellitus in the Middle East (The International Diabetes Mellitus Practices Study, IDMPS).

AIMS: Self-management (self-monitoring of blood glucose, plus self-adjustment of insulin dose) is important in diabetes care, but its complexity presents a barrier to wider implementation, which hinders attainment and maintenance of glycemic targets. More evidence on self-management is needed to increase its implementation and improve metabolic outcomes.

METHODS: Data from 1316 participants with type 1 diabetes mellitus who were enrolled from Middle East countries into the International Diabetes Management Practices Study (IDMPS), a multinational observational survey, were analyzed to assess the impact of education on disease management and outcomes.

RESULTS: A majority (78%) of participants failed to achieve glycemic target (HbA1c <7.0% [<53 mmol/mol]). Participants who had received diabetes education (59%) were more likely to practice self-management than those who had not (odds ratio [OR]: 2.51; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.7-3.69; p<0.001), and those who practiced self-management were more likely to attain target HbA1c than those who did not (OR:1.49; 95% CI: 1.06-2.09; p=0.023).

CONCLUSIONS: These relationships between diabetes education, self-management and glycemic control suggest that diabetes education provides knowledge and skills to optimize self-management, favoring HbA1c target attainment. Middle East health authorities should search for ways to facilitate access to diabetes education to optimize treatment outcomes.