Using Patient Profiles for Sustained Diabetes Management Among People With Type 2 Diabetes

Introduction Our objective was to evaluate the association between patient profiles and sustained diabetes management (SDM) among patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods We collected HbA_1c values recorded from 2014 through 2020 for 570 patients in a hospital in Taipei, Taiwan, and calculated a standard level based on an HbA1c level less than 7.0% to determine SDM. We used patients’ self-reported data on diabetes selfcare behaviors to construct profiles. We used 8 survey items to perform a latent profile analysis with 3 groups (poor management, medication adherence, and good management). After adjusting for other determining factors, we used multiple regression analysis to explore the relationship between patient profiles and SDM. Results The good management group demonstrated better SDM than the poor management group (β = 0.183; P =.003). Using the most recent HbA_1c value and the 7-year average of HbA_1c values as the outcome, we found lower HbA1c values in the good management group than in the poor management group (β = −0.216 [P =.01] and −0.217 [P =.008], respectively). Conclusion By using patient profiles, we confirmed a positive relationship between optimal patient behavior in self-care management and SDM. Patients with type 2 diabetes exhibited effective self-care management behavior and engaged in more health care activities, which may have led to better SDM.