These studies suggest that educational interventions
that more strongly incorporate individual goal-setting and
tailored behavioral change strategies, whether delivered in an individual
or group setting, most successfully help patients improve blood sugar control
in the short term (up to 6 months of follow-up).5,6 However, a large
meta-analysis of the effect of self-management education on longer-term
glycemic control showed that the glycated hemoglobin (A1C) effect
from DSME was not sustained after 4 months.7 More research is needed
to evaluate the effect of educational strategies on more long-term outcomes
and on medication use