Using Patient Profiles for Sustained Diabetes Management Among People With Type 2 Diabetes.

INTRODUCTION

Our objective was to evaluate the association between patient profiles and sustained diabetes management (SDM) among patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

We collected HbA values recorded from 2014 through 2020 for 570 patients in a hospital in Taipei, Taiwan, and calculated a standard level based on an HbA level less than 7.0% to determine SDM. We used patients' self-reported data on diabetes self-care behaviors to construct profiles. We used 8 survey items to perform a latent profile analysis with 3 groups (poor management, medication adherence, and good management). After adjusting for other determining factors, we used multiple regression analysis to explore the relationship between patient profiles and SDM.

RESULTS

The good management group demonstrated better SDM than the poor management group (β = 0.183; P = .003). Using the most recent HbA value and the 7-year average of HbA values as the outcome, we found lower HbA values in the good management group than in the poor management group (β = -0.216 [P = .01] and -0.217 [P = .008], respectively).

CONCLUSION

By using patient profiles, we confirmed a positive relationship between optimal patient behavior in self-care management and SDM. Patients with type 2 diabetes exhibited effective self-care management behavior and engaged in more health care activities, which may have led to better SDM. In promoting patient-centered care, using patient profiles and customized health education materials could improve diabetes care.