Sixty patients with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes were recruited as the intervention participants and enrolled in the insulin self-titration program. Sixty propensity score-matched patients treated with traditional insulin therapy without self-titration were recruited as the control participants. Data on HbA1C and hypoglycemia were collected at baseline and during follow-ups at three and six months. Data on self-efficacy and self-care were collected at the six-month follow-up using self-report questionnaires.~The inclusion criteria were recruited: (1) age ≥ 18 years; (2) diagnosis of type 2 diabetes; (3) treatment with insulin injection for > six months; (4) HbA1C > 7.5% in the last three months; and (5) ability to communicate in Mandarin or Taiwanese.~The insulin self-titration education program includes a 60-min small-group lesson, a 20-min individual instruction. Patients in the comparison group received usual care at the Diabetes Health Education Center. During a 15-min individual education, these patients were taught how to self-inject insulin and test and record their before-breakfast and before-dinner blood glucose levels daily at home Data on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) and the number of hypoglycemia were collected at baseline, three-month, and six-month follow-up. Data on self-efficacy and self-care were collected at the six-month follow-up, using the self-reported questionnaires. The study was approved by the institutional review board of the hospital where the data were collected.~Data were analyzed by using the SPSS 21.0 software. Descriptive analyses were used to describe the research variables. Chi-Square and independent t-test were used to analyze the baseline equilibriums between the two groups. Independent t-tests were used to analyze between-group differences in HbA1C at each time point. A generalized estimating equation (GEE) was used to analyze between-group differences in HbA1C change over time. The independent t-test was used to analyze the difference between the two groups of participants in the post-testing diabetes self-efficacy and self-care.
The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of an insulin self-titration education program on glycemic control, self-efficacy, and self-care behaviors in patients with type 2 diabetes. The quasi-experimental design was adapted. A convenient sample of 120 patients with insulin-treated type 2 diabetes was recruited from a general hospital in Taiwan. Among them, 60 were in the insulin self-titration group, and 60 were in the comparison group. Data on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), self-efficacy, and self-care behavior were collected at baseline, three-month, and six-month follow-up. The study instruments included the Insulin Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy Questionnaire and Diabetes Self-Care questionnaire.