Diabetes Camp as Continuing Education for Diabetes Self-Management in Middle-Aged and Elderly People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

BackgroundDespite the established benefits of diabetes camps for the continuing education of children with type 1 diabetes mellitus, little is known about the long-term metabolic benefits of diabetes camps for middle-aged and elderly people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), especially in terms of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) variability.MethodsThe 1-year mean and variability of HbA1c before and after the diabetes camp was compared between the participants of the diabetes camp (n=57; median age 65 years [range, 50 to 86 years]; median diabetes duration 14 years [range, 1 to 48 years]). Additional case-control analysis compared the metabolic outcomes of the participants of the diabetes camp and their propensity score-matched controls who underwent conventional diabetes education (n=93).ResultsThe levels of HbA1c during the first year after the diabetes camp were comparable to those of the matched controls (P=0.341). In an analysis of all participants of the diabetes camp, the 1-year mean±standard deviation (SD) of HbA1c decreased (P=0.010 and P=0.041) after the diabetes camp, whereas the adjusted SD and coefficient of variance (CV) of HbA1c did not decrease. The adjusted SD and CV significantly decreased after the diabetes camp in participants whose 1-year mean HbA1c was ≥6.5% before the diabetes camp (n=40) and those with a duration of diabetes less than 15 years (n=32).ConclusionThe 1-year mean and SD of HbA1c decreased after the diabetes camp, with significant reduction in the adjusted SD and CV in those with higher baseline HbA1c and a shorter duration of diabetes.

Effects of Diabetic Camp on Self Efficacy Among Middle-Aged and Elderly People With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

“…The Diabetic camp program combines educational programs with interactive learning in a nonclinical setting (Fegan-Bohm et al, 2016). The concept of Yarsi Health Science College, Bukittinggi, West Sumatra, Indonesia *Corresponding Author's Email: junaidy.rustam25@gmail.com doi:10.31674/mjn.2021.v12i03.012 implementing Diabetic camp is more fun for DM sufferers so that it can stimulate motivation, desire to learn and socialization activities between participants that occur during the camp (Park et al, 2017).…”

Older adults’ experiences of being at a senior summer camp—A phenomenographic study

“…Only a few studies on senior summer camps have been conducted: Nilsson et al. (2018) focus on the leaders of a summer camp; Park et al. (2017) study older adults with diabetes going on a senior summer camp; and Larsson et al.…”

“…The history of senior summer camps in Sweden began in the late 1990s, when the first attempts to arrange such camps were made. Only a few studies on senior summer camps have been conducted: Nilsson et al (2018) focus on the leaders of a summer camp; Park et al (2017) study older adults with diabetes going on a senior summer camp; and Larsson et al (2019) study older adults with various experiences of loneliness going on a senior summer camp. The common idea behind senior summer camps is that the participants are given the opportunity to socialize, and thus that the older adults' social isolation is to be mitigated.…”