Premium
Community‐based peer support significantly improves metabolic control in people with Type 2 diabetes in Yaoundé, Cameroon
Author(s) -
Assah F. K.,
Atanga E. N.,
Enoru S.,
Sobngwi E.,
Mbanya J. C.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
diabetic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.474
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1464-5491
pISSN - 0742-3071
DOI - 10.1111/dme.12720
Subject(s) - medicine , type 2 diabetes , diabetes mellitus , blood pressure , peer support , blood sugar , intervention (counseling) , fasting blood sugar , endocrinology , nursing
Aims To examine the effectiveness of a community‐based multilevel peer support intervention in addition to usual diabetes care on improving glycaemic levels, blood pressure and lipids in patients with Type 2 diabetes in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Methods A total of 96 subjects with poorly controlled Type 2 diabetes (intervention group) and 96 age‐ and sex‐matched controls were recruited and followed up over 6 months. The intervention subjects underwent a peer support intervention through peer‐led group meetings, personal encounters and telephone calls. Both intervention subjects and controls continued their usual clinical care. HbA 1c , blood pressure, blood lipids and self‐care behaviours were measured at 0 and 6 months. Results There was significant reduction in HbA 1c in the intervention group [–33 mmol/mol (–3.0%)] compared with controls [–14 mmol/mol (–1.3%)]; P < 0.001. Peer support also led to significant reductions in fasting blood sugar (–0.83 g/l P < 0.001), cholesterol (–0.54 g/l P < 0.001), HDL (–0.09 g/l, P < 0.001), BMI (–2.71 kg/m² P < 0.001) and diastolic pressure (–6.77 mmHg, P < 0.001) over the 6‐month period. Also, diabetes self‐care behaviours in the intervention group improved significantly over the 6 months of peer support. Conclusion Community‐based peer support, in addition to usual care, significantly improved metabolic control in patients with uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes in Yaoundé, Cameroon. This could provide a model for optimizing diabetes care and control in other settings with limited healthcare and financial resources.