Effect of telemedicine messages integrated with peer group support on glycemic control in type 2 diabetics, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

To test the effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability of the Jizan Integrated Life Style Education (JILSE) program. Type 2 diabetes mellitus and its management is challenging in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Audio-visual messages via mobile phone integrated with peer group support were used for diabetic patient empowerment. A quasi-experimental two-group pre- and post-evaluation study design was used. Newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus patients (200) were divided into intervention and control group with equal weightage to gender. Intervention group was divided into peer groups as “Diabetes Cluster” with 25 participants each and monthly meetings, periodic messages, and peer group interactions were encouraged for 6 months. Age, education level, height, weight, smoking habits, physical activity and exercise, duration of disease, type of treatment, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1C), and diabetic knowledge were measured and compared before and after the intervention. There was statistically significant reduction in intervention group compared to control group. The excess reduction in mean HbA1C was 16.87%. Fasting blood sugar was reduced by 6.17% and systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 6.07 and 0.75%. There was 9.97% reduction in total cholesterol value. The reduction in triglycerides, LDL, HDL, smoking habits, and physical exercise was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). The diabetic knowledge level was significantly improved after JILSE program. This study demonstrated that JILSE program is effective, feasible, and acceptable to Saudi diabetic patients. Diabetic patient peer group networks with periodic health education messages and motivation from specialists can decrease the blood glucose level, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, and BMI among diabetes type 2 patients.