Impact of Diabetes Self-Management Education on A1C Levels Among Black/African Americans: A Systematic Review

Purpose: The purpose of this systematic review was to examine the impact of diabetes self-management education (DSME) programs on A1C levels of Black/African American adults with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Authors followed PRISMA guidelines and searched PubMed and CINAHL databases to identify articles published from 2000 to date. The primary outcome was A1C and participation in a DSME program among Black/African Americans with diabetes. Results: Nine high-quality randomized control trials (RCTs) were included in this review. Sample sizes ranged between 48 and 211. Studies reported Black/African American samples ranging from 23% to 57% (n = 4), 4 reported 100%, and 1 reported 96%. Most (56%) reported a statistically significant decline in A1C levels postprogram, whereas 44% noted insignificant changes. All the studies compared the DSME intervention effect to a control group or another type of diabetes self-management program. Conclusion: The results suggest that DSME programs can be effective at lowering A1C levels in Black/African American adults; however, more research with larger sample sizes of Black/African Americans is warranted. The availability of meta-analyses and more RCTs could also further strengthen the external validity of this review. Additionally, future studies focused on A1C outcomes within DSME programs not combined with other self-management interventions among Black/African Americans can advance science regarding the impact of DSME programs among this disparate population.