Effect of diabetes self-management education in type 2 diabetes management - a systematic umbrella review of meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic health condition that affects millions of people worldwide. Diabetes self-management education (DSME) is an effective intervention approach and the potential to enhance the health status of diabetic patients and mitigate complications to the greatest possible extent. However, no systematic synthesis or comprehensive report has been conducted to date on the impact of DSME in patients with diabetes. This review aimed to identify existing evidence on DSME care for diabetes management and the extent to which interventions are included in the evidence base. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Cochrane library databases were searched from inception to the December 31, 2025. Systematic reviews with meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials were included, reporting an effect size to calculate the association between DSME and the outcomes related to HbA1c. Quality of each review was appraised using a Measurement Tool to Assess Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR). RESULTS: A total of 12 meta-analyses were included. In this study, we suggested that DSME will leads to a decrease in HbA1c (effect size [ES] = − 0.34%, 95% confidence interval [CI]: − 0.43% to − 0.25%). The associations of self-management intervention (ES = − 0.35%, 95%CI: − 0.50% to − 0.20%) and technology-based intervention (ES = − 0.33%, 95%CI: − 0.46% to − 0.20%) with lower HbA1c levels were observrd. Overall quality of the included reviews was high or moderate. CONCLUSIONS: This umbrella review consolidates the existing evidence demonstrating that DSME has a significant positive impact on HbA1c levels, among individuals with type 2 diabetes. Future research should prioritize the development and implementation of integrated DSME models to enhance their effectiveness across various health outcomes and ensure adaptability to diverse population needs. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.