Effect of diabetes self-management education on glycemic control in Latino adults with type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

The meta-analysis included only 18 randomized controlled trials, so the subgroup findings rest on small numbers of studies. Blinding of participants and personnel was difficult because the intervention was education, and only some studies blinded providers or outcome assessors. Five studies used enhanced care for control groups, which may have reduced the apparent difference between groups. Attrition rates varied from 6% to over 40%, and common reasons for dropping out were transportation, child care, time, illness or lack of interest. Moderate heterogeneity meant studies varied in participants, curriculum, duration and baseline A1C, so one DSME format cannot be inferred. Only published, peer-reviewed studies were searched, so unpublished work may be missing. The time between the end of the intervention and A1C measurement varied across studies.

Do not conclude that diabetes self-management education will usually bring Latino adults with type 2 diabetes to A1C target levels. The pooled reduction was 0.240%, and most participants did not reach target levels.