iSi, Yo Puedo Vivir Sano con Diabetes! A Self-Management Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial for Low-Income Adults with Type 2 Diabetes in Mexico City

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a worldwide epidemic and a leading cause of death in Mexico, with a prevalence of 15.9%, and >70% of diagnosed adults have poor glycemic control [glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) >7.5%]. We developed a diabetes self-management education program contextualized to the study population, including dietary preferences, health literacy, and health system. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of a self-management + text message program (iSi, Yo Puedo Vivir Sano con Diabetes!) on primary (HbA1c), and secondary behavioral (self-management), clinical, and psychosocial outcomes in adults with T2D in Mexico City. Methods: Participants were recruited at public primary healthcare centers (Seguro Popular), and randomly allocated to treatment (n = 26) or wait-list control groups (n = 21) with data collected at 3 and 6 mo. The program included 7 weekly sessions and 6 mo of daily text/picture messages. Descriptive statistics and a generalized linear mixed model with intent-to-treat analysis were calculated. Results: Participants were 55.5 +/- 8.8 y of age (mean +/- SD), 68% female, 88.6% overweight/obese, and 57% lived in food-insecure households. Mean +/- SD T2D duration was 11.9 +/- 7.8 y and HbA1c was 9.2% +/- 1.5%. There was 89% attendance at sessions and 6.4% attrition across both groups at 6 mo. Group-by-time effects were seen in self-monitoring of blood glucose (P < 0.01) and diabetes self-efficacy (P < 0.04); and a trend for lower HbA1c was seen in the intervention group at 6 mo (P = 0.11). Significant improvements in dietary behavior (P < 0.01) were demonstrated in the intervention group over time, but this did not reach statistical significance compared with the control group. Conclusions: The program was associated with clinically significant improvements in T2D self-management, self-efficacy, and HbA1c over time. Thus, T2D self-management skills, including diet, were improved in a vulnerable metropolitan population.