Diabetes
Uptake of Diabetes Self-Management Education among Diabetic cancer Survivors Michelle Asiedu-Danso* Michelle Asiedu-Danso Baylor University
Introduction: Recent advancement in cancer research has prolonged the life of survivors thus patients must be prepared for chronic conditions such as diabetes that may arise later in life or due to cancer therapy exposure. Diabetes Self-Management Education (DSME) has been shown to improve diabetes management and prevent complications, yet access remains limited. This study aims to investigate the uptake of DSME and explore how the sequence of diabetes diagnosis among cancer survivors impacts its uptake.
Methods: Three cycles of the Behavioral Risk factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) were analyzed to assess receipt of DSME by patients who had reported a diagnosis of cancer and diabetes (2022,2023,2024). Bivariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression analysis were conducted to investigate the relationship between socio-demographic and health factors and the receipt of DSME among diabetic cancer survivors. A Cochran-Armitage Tend test was also conducted to assess the annual trends in DSME receipt among survivors.
Results: There is a steady decline in the receipt of DSME among diabetic cancer survivors (50% to 45%, p<0.0001). People who received a diabetes diagnosis after or concurrently with a cancer diagnosis had 26% lower odds of receiving DSME compared to those who had a diabetes diagnosis before a cancer diagnosis (aOR:0.74, p<0.0001). College graduates had 22% lower odds of receiving DSME compared to those with high school or less (aOR: 0.74, p<0.0001). Females had 41% higher odds of receiving DSME. Similarly Non-Hispanic Blacks had 27% higher odds of receiving DSME compared to their white counterparts. Interestingly, obesity and insurance status did not play a role in receiving DSME (p>0.05).
Conclusion: The declining uptake of DSME is of concern to this vulnerable health group. This may highlight the need for interprofessional care of patients and interventions geared at improving access to DSME for diabetic cancer survivors.