ABSTRACT
Diabetes mellitus [DM] requires continuous medical care, patients' self-management, education, and adherence to prescribed medication to reduce the risk of long-term complications. The aim of this study was to assess the benefits of an education program on diabetes, patient self-management, adherence to medication, anxiety, depression and glycemic control in type 2 diabetics in Saudi Arabia. This was a prospective study, conducted among 104 diabetic patients at a major tertiary hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, between May 2011 and October 2012. Education materials given to diabetic patients included pamphlets/handouts written in Arabic, the national language. Special videotapes about DM were made and distributed to all participants. In addition, specific educational programs through the diabetes educators and one-on-one counseling sessions with the doctor were also arranged. Patients were interviewed using a structured interview schedule both during the baseline, and after 6 months of the program. The interview schedule included, socio-demographics, clinical characteristics, diabetes self-management, adherence to medication, anxiety, and depression. Glycemic control was considered poor, if hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c] was >/= 7%.The mean age of the study population was 57.3 +/- 14.4 years. Seventy one were males [68.3%] and 33 [31.7%] were females. After six months of the diabetes education program, there were significant improvements in patients' dietary plan [P = 0.0001], physical exercise [P = 0.0001], self-monitoring of blood glucose [SMBG] [P = 0.0001], HbA1c [P = 0.04], adherence to medication [P = 0.007], and depression [P = 0.03]. Implementation of education programs on diabetes among type 2 diabetic patients is associated with better outcomes such as their dietary plan, physical exercise, SMBG, adherence to medication, HbA1c and depression