Effects of Online Diabetes Self-management Education on Knowledge Retention, BMI, and HbA1c in Newly Diagnosed Adults With Type 2 Diabetes

NCT07669038 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: DSME-T2D-2026
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 123
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

Type 2 diabetes requires active self-management from the time of diagnosis, but participation in traditional face-to-face diabetes self-management education is often limited by access-related and personal barriers. Online education may provide a more flexible and accessible way to deliver structured diabetes education, particularly for newly diagnosed adults who need timely support in understanding and managing their condition. This study evaluated the effects of online diabetes self-management education compared with traditional face-to-face education on diabetes knowledge retention, body mass index (BMI), and HbA1c in adults newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes who were not receiving antidiabetic medication. A total of 123 participants were included: 49 participants received online diabetes self-management education, 52 participants received traditional face-to-face education, and 22 participants who declined education formed a non-randomized control group. Diabetes knowledge was assessed at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and at three-month follow-up, while BMI and HbA1c were measured at baseline and follow-up. At three-month follow-up, both online and traditional education groups showed significantly greater diabetes knowledge compared with the control group. The online education group also showed better immediate post-intervention knowledge than the traditional education group. Both education groups had significant reductions in BMI from baseline to follow-up, while no significant short-term effect on HbA1c was observed.

Conditions

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM); Diabetes Self-Management Education

Keywords

type 2 diabetes mellitus; education; telemedicine; glycaemic control

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire (DKQ24) Score

  Change in diabetes-related knowledge measured using the 24-item Diabetes Knowledge Questionnaire (DKQ24). Scores range from 0 to 24, with higher scores indicating greater diabetes knowledge.

  Baseline, immediately post-intervention, and 3 months after intervention.

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Body Mass Index (BMI)

  Baseline and 3 months after intervention.

• Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c)

  Baseline and 3 months after intervention

Study Arms (3)

Online Diabetes Self-Management Education

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: Online Diabetes Self-Management Education

Traditional Face-to-Face Diabetes Self-Management Education

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Behavioral: Traditional Face-to-Face Diabetes Self-Management Education

No Diabetes Self-Management Education (Control)

NO INTERVENTION

Interventions

Online Diabetes Self-Management Education BEHAVIORAL

Participants attended a 60-minute interactive online diabetes self-management education program delivered through a Moodle learning platform using H5P interactive content. The program consisted of five modules: Diabetes Treatment and Management, Recommendations for Healthy Eating with Diabetes, Physical Activity Recommendations, Diabetes Complications and Diabetic Foot, and Planning Lifestyle Modifications. The intervention was designed to improve diabetes-related knowledge and support self-management among adults newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Online Diabetes Self-Management Education

Traditional Face-to-Face Diabetes Self-Management Education BEHAVIORAL

Participants attended a 60-minute face-to-face diabetes self-management education session conducted in small groups of 4-6 participants. The educational content covered diabetes treatment and management, healthy eating recommendations, physical activity recommendations, diabetes complications and diabetic foot care, and planning lifestyle modifications. The intervention was designed to improve diabetes-related knowledge and support self-management among adults newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Traditional Face-to-Face Diabetes Self-Management Education

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Adults aged 18 years or older.
• Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus within the previous 1 month.
• Ability to access and use information and communication technology devices (smartphone, computer, or tablet).
• Proficiency in the language used for the educational intervention.
• Ability and willingness to provide written informed consent.

You may not qualify if:

• Pregnancy.
• Current treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus with antidiabetic medication (oral agents, injectable medications, or insulin).
• Previous participation in a diabetes self-management education program.
• Presence of concomitant diseases or treatments that could affect blood glucose levels (e.g., cancer or corticosteroid treatment).
• Visual impairment, cognitive impairment, literacy difficulties, or manual dexterity limitations that could interfere with participation.
• Deterioration in health status or occurrence of events that, in the opinion of the investigators, warranted discontinuation from the study.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Primorska: lead

Study Sites (1)

Primary Healthcare Center Koper, Diabetes Outpatient Clinic, Koper, Slovenia

Koper, Slovenia

Location

Related Publications (2)

• Garcia AA, Villagomez ET, Brown SA, Kouzekanani K, Hanis CL. The Starr County Diabetes Education Study: development of the Spanish-language diabetes knowledge questionnaire. Diabetes Care. 2001 Jan;24(1):16-21. doi: 10.2337/diacare.24.1.16.

  PMID: 11194219 BACKGROUND

• CENČIČ, Ajda, 2025. The Effect of a Web-Based Educational Program for Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes [In Slovenian: Učinek spletnega edukacijskega programa za osebe s sladkorno boleznijo tipa 2]: Doctoral dissertation [online]. Izola: A. Cenčič. [Accessed 19 June 2026]. Available at: https://repozitorij.upr.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=slv&id=22637

  RESULT

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Diabetes Mellitus; Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Metabolic Diseases; Nutritional and Metabolic Diseases; Endocrine System Diseases

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 19, 2026
• First Posted: June 25, 2026
• Study Start: March 14, 2023
• Primary Completion: June 26, 2024
• Study Completion: June 26, 2024
• Last Updated: July 8, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Time Frame: Data will be available following publication of the study.
• Access Criteria: Data may be provided to qualified researchers upon reasonable request and in accordance with journal, ethical, and institutional data-sharing requirements.

Locations

SL (1)