Effect of diabetes educational program on self-care and diabetes control among type 2 diabetic patients in Al-Baha–Saudi Arabia

Background/objective: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in Saudi Arabia was dramatically increased from 3.4% in 1996 to 19.42% in 2012 and to 23.9% in 2013. The study aimed to determine the effect of diabetes educational intervention for patients with type 2 diabetes on selfcare and diabetes control. Methods: This is a quazi experimental study was conducted on 61 patients, who met the inclusion criteria attending for follow up at Diabetic Center in King Fahd Hospital in AlBaha. Data was collected using demographic data form, metabolic control parameter form, and diabetes self-care scale (DSCS) form. Data was analyzed using SPSS (statistical package for social science) version 22. Results: The included 61 diabetic patients were male (63.9%) and female (36.1%) attended to diabetic center at King Fahad Hospital in Al-Baha. They are about 37 [+ or -] 1.89 years old and mainly married 51 (83.6%). The diabetes education has been delivered to about 52.5% of patients by doctor, nurses or dietitian 34.4%. The metabolic control parameters among diabetic patients showed that glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) has been significantly dropped from 8.66 to 7.73 after intervention and triglyceride significantly dropped from 152.62 to 150.57, other metabolic parameters were insignificantly decreased after intervention. The diabetes self-care scale was significantly improved after intervention, from 2.4 to 3.3. Conclusion: The diabetes education improved metabolic control parameters among diabetic patients specially the glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and triglyceride. Furthermore, the used intervention improved self-care among diabetic patients after intervention. Keywords: self-care; diabetic patients; blood sugar; control