To survey the characteristics of diabetes education of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in China and investigate the relationship between diabetes education and disease management and self-care activities of the patients.

General questionnaire and the summary of diabetes self-care activities (SDSCA) scale were adopted from April to July in 2010 in this multi-center, cross-section survey, to interview 5200 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus from 50 medical centers. Based on the questionnaire, patients were divided into 4 groups: uneducated (971 cases), been educated in 1-2 respects (532 cases), been educated in 3-4 respects (1001 cases), been educated in 5-6 respects (2696 cases). Data of up-mentioned 4 groups were compared by analysis of variance.

Age (F=7.75, P<0.05), duration of diabetes (F=32.86, P<0.05) and incidence rate of several complications were significant different among the 4 groups. Percentages of individuals who reached the recommended level of fasting plasma glucose(FPG), two-hour postprandial plasma glucose (2 h PG) and glycated hemoglobin A1c(HbA1c) were significantly different among the 4 groups. Compared with those in the uneducated individuals, higher percentage of individuals been educated for 5-6 respects achieved the targets of FPG≤7.0 mmol/L (47.62% vs 36.81%, χ²=30.05, P<0.05), 2 h PG≤10.0 mmol/L (49.03% vs 37.76%, χ²=29.40, P<0.05) and HbA1c<7% (34.94% vs 26.65%, χ²=11.82, P<0.05). Mean scores of self-care behaviors were significantly different among the 4 groups. Individuals been educated for 5-6 respects suggested higher mean scores in diet management (4.5± 1.5 vs 3.6 ± 1.7, t=0.818, P<0.05), physical exercise (4.5± 2.5 vs 3.4±2.6, t=1.082, P<0.05), self glucose monitoring (3.2±2.6 vs 2.5±2.7, t=0.672, P<0.05), foot care (4.8±1.8 vs 3.7± 1.8, t=1.033, P<0.05) and medications (6.3± 1.5 vs 5.8±2.0, t=0.556, P<0.05) than those in uneducated individuals.

Only a few patients in China had accepted comprehensive diabetes education. Both diabetes education and its comprehensiveness might contribute to better glycemic control and self-care behaviors of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Diabetes mellitus, type 2; Patients education; Self care