A Three-Month Continuous Care Intervention for Prediabetes Management at Polyclinic Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine

Abstract

   Background: Prediabetes is a condition where blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not yet high enough to be diagnosed as diabetes. It is associated with an increased risk of progressing to type 2 diabetes and other metabolism disorders. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a continuous care intervention on changes in fasting blood glucose, HbA1c levels, body weight, and patient satisfaction among prediabetic patients at Polyclinic Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine.

   Methods: A total of 37 adults diagnosed with prediabetes were enrolled in this study. Participants received continuous care from a family medicine physician, which included tailored nutritional counseling and structured physical activity guidance. Data on fasting glucose, HbA1c, body weight, and patient satisfaction were collected at baseline and after the three-month intervention period.

   Results: Of the 37 participants initially recruited, 28 completed the intervention. The study observed a decrease in average fasting blood glucose from 5.49 ± 0.65 mg/dL to 5.39 ± 0.65 mg/dL and in HbA1c from 5.91 ± 0.33 to 5.79 ± 0.43, though these changes were not statistically significant. There was a significant reduction in body weight (0.81 ± 0.6 kg; p = 0.022). Patient satisfaction was high, with an average score of 26.85 ± 4.25 out of 32.

   Conclusions: Although the change in the fasting blood glucose and HbA1c were not significant, this study suggests that continuous care models can be effective in improving lifestyle adherence and managing weight, which are crucial for preventing the progression of prediabetes to diabetes. The study supports the need for further research into longer-term to enhance the effectiveness of prediabetes management programs.

DOI: 10.59715/pntjmp.4.2.10