The effects of home-based nursing care on metabolic control among patients with type ii diabetes mellitus: A randomized clinical trial

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) management is challenging, particularly for people in developing countries.
Objective: This study aimed to examine the effects of a home-based nursing care (HBNC) program on metabolic control among patients with type II DM.
Methods: This single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted in Hamadan, Iran, in 2014. Sixty patients with type II DM were consecutively recruited from a public diabetes care clinic in Hamadan, Iran, and randomly allocated to an experimental and a control group. Patients in the control group received usual discharge services, while their counterparts in the experimental group received HBNC services in addition to usual discharge services. The levels of fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A_1C, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high- and low-density lipoprotein cholesterols, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured before and 3 months after the intervention. Data analysis was performed through the Chi-square, the paired-sample and the independent-sample t-tests.
Results: HBNC program significantly decreased the levels of fasting blood glucose (from 206.60 ± 84.93 to 141.40 ± 48.75; p < 0.001), hemoglobin A_1C(from 9.25 ± 2.19 to 7.55 ± 1.54; p < 0.001), and triglycerides (from 165.80 ± 78.96 to 126.63 ± 45.21; p < 0.01). However, it had no significant effects on total cholesterol, high- and low-density lipoproteins, and systolic and diastolic blood pressures (p > 0.05).
Conclusion: HBNC is an effective strategy for managing type II DM and decreasing the risk of its complications.