EFFECTIVENESS OF A DIABETES ONE-STOP CLINIC FOR TYPE 2 DIABETES PATIENTS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN THAILAND

Abstract

INTRODUCTION
A multidisciplinary team approach is a strategy for optimizing care for patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes. However, the effectiveness of an integrated diabetes care team remains unclear.

METHODOLOGY
This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a diabetes onestop clinic, a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic that aims to provide integrated care for type 2 diabetes at Taksin Hospital. A multidisciplinary team, consisting of an endocrinologist, a certified nurse educator, a pharmacist, and a nutritionist, attended a weekly clinic at the Diabetes and Metabolic Care Center in Taksin Hospital. The integrated care team provides diabetes self-management and support, nutritional counseling, and diabetes management. To evaluate the change in their metabolic profile, a retrospective assessment of medical records for type 2 diabetes patients who visited a clinic between October 2021 and March 2022 and had HbA1c above 8% was conducted. The statistical analysis was conducted on 113 patients who underwent follow-up for at least 6 months.

RESULTS
Among 113 patients, 68.5% were female participants and the mean age of the patients was 60 years. Their mean HbA1c was 9.36%, and their mean body mass index was 29.1 kg/m2. From baseline to 6 months, HbA1c levels decreased significantly (- 0.92%, p<0.05). 61.6% of patients lowered their HbA1c levels by 0.5% in 6 months. There were no statistically significant reductions in fasting blood glucose, systolic blood pressure, weight, body mass index, or serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL).

CONCLUSION
A diabetes one-stop clinic showed significant improvement in HbA1c levels of around 0.9% in 6 months without an increase in body mass index. This study supports the benefits of treating type 2 diabetes using multidisciplinary teams that may help optimize glycemic control in clinical practice.