Background: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who participate in diabetes management programs\nhave been shown to have better glycemic control and slower disease progression, although program participation\nremains low. In the USA, increasing participation in diabetes management support programs may also directly\nimpact provider reimbursement, as payments are increasingly based on patient-centered measures. However, little\nis known about factors that may enhance patient participation. This study aimed at further understanding what is\nimportant in diabetes management support from the patientsâ�� perspective and at assessing the utilization of\nvarious types of diabetes-management programs.\nMethods: A two-phase mixed-methods study was conducted of adult US members of PatientsLikeMe�®, an online\nresearch network of patients. Phase 1 comprised qualitative interviews with 10 individuals to inform the online\nsurveyâ��s contents, aided by literature review. During phase 2, this online survey was completed by 294 participants\nwho reported on their diabetes goals and preferences for T2DM self-management support programs.\nResults: The majority of the respondents were not participating in any program (65 %), but most had goals of\nimproving diet (77 %), weight loss (71 %), and achieving stable blood glucose levels (71 %). Among those currently\nparticipating in programs, clinic, hospital-based, or other health-care professional programs were the most commonly\nused (51 %). The most preferred type of support was diet/weight-loss support (62 %), while doctors or nurses (61 %)\nand dietitians (55 %) were the most preferred sources of diabetes support.\nConclusions: The low participation in diabetes self-management programs revealed in this study underscores the\nneed for strategies to improve patient engagement. The results revealed support types and formats that patients with\nT2DM prefer and need. These findings may help improve patient engagement by guiding the future design of more\neffective diabetes management support programs.
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