Follow-up frequency impacts metabolic control in diabetes patients under MMC framework—a retrospective study

Background Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have risk of cardiovascular complications if blood glucose, blood lipids, and blood pressure (BP) are not optimally controlled. National Metabolic Management Center (MMC) has established a new management model to improve metabolic control. Purpose This study aimed to assess the level of metabolic control in T2DM patients under MMC and explore the relationship between clinical follow-up frequency and target-reaching rate of HbA1c, LDL-C, and BP. Method This was a retrospective study. Baseline measurements and follow-up data were collected from September 2017 to November 2019. The subjects were grouped according to the follow-up frequency as 4 times/year. Results The positive changes in HbA1c and LDL-C were associated with follow-up frequency. After adjusting for confounders, the target-reaching rate of HbA1c for patients with follow-up ≥4 times/year was higher than those with 4 times/year). Compared to patients with follow-up 4 times/year). After 1 year of management, 48.91%, 47.43%, and 56.72% of patients achieved the target goals, respectively. 12.88% patients met all three targets. Conclusion MMC improves the target-reaching rate of HbA1c, BP, and LDL-C for T2DM patients in China. Compared with follow-up 4 times/year was found no additional benefits than 4 times/year.