Objective: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of self-management education integrated with text-message support (SME-TMS) on glycaemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

Study design: a randomized, controlled trial.

Methods: Patients from two communities were randomized into the intervention group (n = 53) or the control group (n = 52). The six-month intervention included the culturally tailored diabetes education and text-messaging support for behaviour changes. The control group received treatment as usual. The primary outcome was reductions in HbA(1c) and fasting blood glucose at six-month non-intervention follow-up. Secondary outcomes were reductions in body weight, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, physical activity, and health beliefs.

Results: The intervention led to substantially increase days of weekly physical activity (42% vs. 0%, P < 0.001) and health beliefs (coefficient = 7.0, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.4 to 9.6, P < 0.001). However, no greater reduction was found in HbA(1c) at six months after the intervention, compared with the control group (0.13%, 95% CI: -0.20 to 0.46, P = 0.443). The reductions of blood pressure, TC, and LDL-C were greater in the control group than in the intervention group (all P < 0.050). Within the intervention group, participants had significant reduction in BMI, whereas the control group had greater reductions in TC and LDL-C (all P < 0.050).

Conclusions: The SME-TMS intervention led to a greater increase in the weekly physical activity and health belief score in the older patients at 6-month follow-up than with the usual care. Further research is needed to ascertain how these benefits could be translated into favorable medium-and long-term glycaemic control. TRAIL REGISTRATION NUMBER: This study was registered on Chinese Clinical Trials Registry (ChiCTR2300075112).