Type 2 DM is a chronic disease and is increasing in prevalence and incidence worldwide. In developing nations like the Philippines, it affects patients and their families. Family-oriented interventions, like family counseling, meetings, interviews, and home visits, can support commitment to change and enhance medication adherence, health behavior, and knowledge ensuring adherence to the multifaceted diabetes type 2 management. Patients and families should be permitted to make decisions about lifestyle modifications and medication interventions and finding the appropriate family-focused intervention that works for managing type 2 diabetes is essential. With this information, family physicians can provide more effective care to patients hence, improving their quality of life.

This review’s objective was to determine the effectiveness of family-focused intervention among patients with type 2 diabetes in terms of glycemic control (HbA1c and FBS) and in terms of improving the quality of life.

This is a meta-analysis that included clinical trials randomized involving adult participants that were diagnosed to have type 2 DM. The interventions tested was family-based interventions and the primary outcomes included are HbA1c and FBS. A systematic review was conducted for secondary outcome, patients’ quality of life. Reviewers used the RevMan5 software in the analysis of data.

Seven studies met the inclusion criterion. The overall mean difference in post-treatment HbA1c was −0.54%(95%CI [-0.82,-0.25];p=0.0003) for the 1,265 participants included, showing an overall significant benefit of reducing HbA1c favoring intervention, especially on the 3-month follow-up. On subgroup analysis, the results were as follows: 3-months, -0.45%(95%CI [-0.73,-0.16];p=0.002); 6-month, -0.15%(95%CI[-0.51,0.22];p=0.44), and 12-month, -0.77%(95%CI[-1.75,0.21], p=0.12). The overall difference in mean change in FBS showed a result of -7.8(95%CI[-17.52,1.92],p=0.12) showing benefit, though not statistically significant, favoring intervention in decreasing FBS.

Family-focused interventions among Type 2 DM patients shows significant benefit on improving glycemic control and QOL.