RECOMMENDATIONS
The 2015 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guideline for the management of T2DM in adults calls group education programs “the preferred option” for diabetes education, suggesting that clinicians reserve individual education for patients unable or unwilling to participate in group programs.4
The 2017 diabetes self-management education and support policy endorsed by the American Diabetes Association recommends using interprofessional teams and “creative solutions” to increase patient engagement and endorses group meetings as an effective option for patients who choose them.5
Editor’s takeaway
Moderate-quality evidence demonstrates that group visits can significantly reduce HbA1c levels. We should consider them for our patients with diabetes who are willing to attend group sessions.