Online diabetes self-management programmes help lower blood sugar levels

Virtual diabetes self -management interventions have demonstrated significant effectiveness in reducing blood sugar markers among participants with type 2 diabetes, according to the new research of the University of Texas A&M. The study found that structured education, smartphone applications and combined approaches threw substantial improvements in the A1C hemoglobin levels that persisted over a six -month period, regardless of delivery method.

The study evaluates virtual diabetes management approaches Researchers at the School of Public Health of the University of Texas A&M have found convincing evidence that online diabetes self -management programs can help people with 2 significant diabetes of bleach sugar control. The study, published in the Fronteras magazine in Public Health, evaluated three different virtual intervention approaches and found that all were effective to reduce the A1C hemoglobin levels, the main marker used to diagnose and monitor diabetes.

Directed by Professor Marcia Ory, the research team conducted a random controlled essay that involved 189 adults with non -administered diabetes of rural and urban areas of Texas. All participants had basal levels of A1C or 7.5 or more at the beginning of the study.

“There are many self -management interventions for people who live with type 2 diabetes, but so far small research on their effectiveness has been carried out based on deliveries or when used in combination,” Sid and Disting , and the community’s health center and age.

Three proven intervention approaches
The researchers compared three different intervention modalifications:

The first was a structured virtual education program with individual advice, which provides 6-8 hours of asynchronous training along with personalized sessions with registered nurses or dietitians.

The second intervention used an application for smartphones that offers skills for diabetes self -care and access to a diabetes coach for personalized support.

The third approach combined both drying methods, adding applications access to the virtual education program.

Participants used their intervention assigned for three months, with A1C measurements tasks at the beginning, three months and six months. The research team conducted an intention analysis to deal with the effectiveness of each approach.

Observed durable benefits
The study revealed that the three successful types of intervention reduced the A1C values ​​of the participants, without significant differences between the approaches. More importantly, the researchers found that these improvements were stable over time.

“In contrast to other studies, at the beginning, our longitudinal analyzes found that A1C levels remained lower over time, suggestions to provide training and development development at their own pace could a lasting impact, despite the particular virtual delivery fashion,” “” “” “” “” “”

The research also revealed some interesting demographic patterns. Older adults tended to experience greater reductions in A1C values ​​compared to younger participants, and those with better health generally achieve more positive results.

The withholding of the participants was notable, with approximately 90% of the subjects who traced in the study during the full six months. Professor Matthew Lee Smith, one of the key researchers of the study, suggested that this could be attributed to “efforts to make programs adaptable and to promote Throgh interactive learning programs.”

Implications for Diabetes Management
Researchers suggest that relatively economic and accessible self -management interventions could help address this growing public health challenge.

Although he recognized limitations in his sample, participants were speakers of English with access to digital technology that lived in Texas, researchers believe that their findings have a broader applicability.

“We hope that many people with non -administered type 2 diabetes, including those of underrepresented groups or who have less access to medical care, can experience similar benefits,” said Oy.

The study offers encouraging evidence that virtual diabetes self -management programs can improve blood sugar control, potentially reducing the risk of serious diabetes related complications, such as heart disease, stroke, renal insufficiency and blindness.

Reference:
ORY, M., HAN, G., Smith, ML, Towne, S., Carpenter, K. and Nsobundu, C. (2025). Comparative effectiveness of diabetes diabetes self -management strategies and support intervention strategies between adults with type 2 diabetes in Texas. Borders in public health.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1543298