Is diabetes self-management education associated with reduced mortality risk: A scoping review

Published Date: 01st February 2025

Publication Authors: Lewis. GA, Hardy. K

Conference Abstract

Objectives: Diabetes is very common, particularly in minority ethnic groups and the disadvantaged and is associated with multimorbidity, disability and premature death. In 2022 alone, diabetes was associated with 7000 excess deaths in the United Kingdom. Diabetes self-management education (DSME) is a cornerstone of therapy and has been shown to improve self-management skills, wellbeing and blood sugar balance; but does DSME prevent premature death? The aim of this scoping review was to examine the impact of DSME on mortality in people with type 2 diabetes.
Method(s): Using CINAHL, MEDLINE and EMBASE, two independent reviewers examined full-text articles reporting impact of DSME on mortality. Using a mixed-methods appraisal, the log odds ratio (logOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) of mortality in those with and without DSME attendance was calculated and presented as Forest plots of the effect estimates of the included studies. It is noteworthy that the majority of studies report mortality as drop out rather than as a primary outcome measure.
Result(s): From 294 articles, 32 studies with 18,567 participants were included in the analysis. Overall pooled mortality was 0.4% (n = 742). DSME attendance was associated with a significantly lower mortality rate (2.5% vs. 5.5%, p < 0.05). Compared with controls, logOR for DSME attendance was 0.31 (95% CI: 0.038-0.578). The accompanying funnel plot was symmetrical, indicating a low risk of publication bias.
Conclusion(s): In this scoping review in people with type 2 diabetes, compared with controls, DSME attendance was associated with a significantly lower mortality risk.

Lewis, G.A.; Hardy, K.J. (2025). Is diabetes self-management education associated with reduced mortality risk: A scoping review. Diabetic Medicine. 42(Supp 1). [Online]. Available at: https://dx.doi.org/10.1111/dme.15497 [Accessed 4 February 2026].