Clinical and Behavioral Impact of Implementing Community-Based Diabetes Disease Management in Japan

Background Treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus consists of dietary and exercise therapy, administration of oral hypoglycemic agents and insulin treatment for each stage. Compliance/adherence by patients to drug therapy and self care in their daily lives, not only in the stage of dietary and exercise therapy, but also after the start of drug therapy, are important factors. Disease management supporting self care may have a positive influence on the clinical management of diabetes. This study examined the effects of a disease management program implemented in the Yasugi-Nogi region of Shimane prefecture of Japan on clinical and behavioral aspects for type 2 diabetes in which intervention was implemented primarily by healthcare institutions.