Effectiveness of a Generic Chronic Disease Self-management Program for People with Type 2 Diabetes: a Translation Study

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to determine the feasibility and efficacy of a generic chronic disease self-management program for people with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: English-speaking adults with type 2 diabetes who were part of a larger US national translation study of the Stanford Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) were invited to be part of the current study. In addition to completing self-report questionnaires, participants submitted blood samples at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Of the 114 participants, half had A1C values between 6% and 6.9% and half had values of 7.0% or more.

Results: Adults with diabetes successfully participated in CDSMP workshops in a community health setting. Participants demonstrated statistically significant improvements in health indicators and behaviors but no reductions in health care utilization. Participants with A1C of 7% and above had A1C reductions at 6 months, with smaller reductions at 12 months. Those with baseline A1C less than 7% had no changes in A1C at 6 or 12 months.

Conclusions: The results suggest that the CDSMP is a useful and appropriate program for lowering A1C among those with A1C above 7% and for improving health status for people with diabetes, regardless of their A1C.