Teaching led by nurses may lower blood sugar after three months

The review

1. 01

   Who took part

   Eight trials with 1,654 adults who had type 2 diabetes. Most trials were in Asia, and ages generally ran from 40 to 80.

2. 02

   What they did

   People had 4 to 12 nurse-led teaching sessions, one to one or in groups, over 3 months to 2.5 years. The other group had usual care or minimal teaching.

3. 03

   What happened

   Blood sugar (HbA1c) was lower than in the other group at 3 to 6 months and after 6 months. The first 3 months showed no clear difference, and confidence in managing diabetes was higher, though the trials varied a lot. Fasting blood sugar fell a little, good cholesterol (HDL) rose a little, and other fats showed no clear change.

What the review found

1. No differenceOther outcomes

   In the first three months, nurse-led teaching made no clear difference to blood sugar (HbA1c).

   Pooled analysis of 0 studies · vs people who got usual care or minimal teaching · ⚠ the studies disagreed a lot; whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

2. HelpedOther outcomes

   People who had nurse-led teaching had lower blood sugar (HbA1c) at three to six months.

   Pooled analysis of 0 studies · vs people who got usual care or minimal teaching · ⚠ the studies disagreed a lot; whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

3. HelpedOther outcomes

   After six months, people who had nurse-led teaching still had lower blood sugar (HbA1c).

   Pooled analysis of 0 studies · vs people who got usual care or minimal teaching · ⚠ the studies disagreed a lot; whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

4. HelpedMotivation

   People who had nurse-led teaching felt more sure about managing their diabetes.

   Pooled analysis of 4 studies · vs people who got usual care or minimal teaching · they rated themselves · ⚠ signs that small negative studies went unpublished; results look too good to be true; the studies disagreed a lot; whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

Source