Background: Diabetes self-management education (DSME) is an essential component of lifestyle management needed for diabetes care, and is known to reduce cardiovascular risk factors of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) (American Diabetes Association [ADA], 2017). According to ADA, effective DSME is multidisciplinary, patient-centered, as well as age and culturally appropriate (ADA, 2017). Despite ranking second in the world in the prevalence of diabetes, there is no reported intervention addressing diabetes self-care in the Arab world.

Aims: The aim of this pilot-study was to test the effect of the first culturally-tailored educational program targeting diabetes self-care on cardiovascular risk factors of Lebanese patients with T2D.

Methods: A sample of 27 adults (Age: 61±10 years, 59% M, A1C: 8.98±1.38%) diagnosed with T2D for at least one year was recruited from two dispensaries in Beirut. Participants received culturally-tailored, multidisciplinary educational sessions based on the Information-Motivation-Behavioral model and on ADA’s National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support. Anthropometric measures (weight, height, BMI, waist circumference, body fat mass and fat-free mass) and blood samples (Triglycerides, Total, LDL and HDL cholesterol) were collected at baseline, 3 months and 6 months post-intervention.

Results: Waist circumference (107.52±12.91 vs. 106.59±12.01) and cholesterol/HDL ratio (4.45±1.39 vs. 4.06±1.29) decreased at 6 months post-intervention (p=0.02).

Discussion and Conclusion: This is the first intervention study showing the effectiveness of a culturally-tailored, multidisciplinary education program in improving body adiposity and blood lipids of Lebanese patients with T2D, and thus reducing their cardiovascular risk factors. It sets the stage for larger scale implementation with more representative sample.

Disclosure

M. Bassil: None. O. Sukkarieh-Haraty: None. J.L. Abi Kharma: None. L.E. Egede: Research Support; Self; National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Advisory Panel; Self; Novo Nordisk Inc..

© 2018 by the American Diabetes Association.
2018
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