Analysis of the effect and correlation of the co-care model on the diagnosis and treatment of type 2 diabetes patients

Abstract Objectives The traditional diabetes management model focuses primarily on in-hospital treatment, with limited support for patients’ self-management at home. The co-care model, integrating both online and offline components, offers a promising strategy for continuous patient support, but its effectiveness in real-world settings requires further evaluation. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a one-year co-care model on glycemic control and other cardiometabolic parameters in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and to explore the association between patient engagement level (categorized by online and offline activity) and health outcomes. Methods We conducted an observational study of 1,741 T2DM patients from the Endocrinology Department of Hospital in Beijing enrolled from December 2020 to November 2024. Patients were managed under a co-care model for over one year, involving regular offline follow-ups and an online application for education, monitoring, and communication. Patients were categorized into four groups based on their online and offline activity levels: inactive both, offline-active only, online-active only, and active both. The primary outcome was the proportion achieving the HbA1c target at one year. Secondary outcomes included blood pressure and LDL-C control rates, a composite “3B” target (HbA1c, BP, and LDL-C), and changes in body mass index (BMI). Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, chi-square/ANOVA tests, and multivariate logistic regression. Results After one year of common care mode management, patients with type 2 diabetes had lower glycosylated hemoglobin, higher glycosylated standard rate and lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) standard rate, lower glycosylated rate and lower blood pressure, and the proportion of 18–28 kg/m 2 in BMI segment would increase. In addition, through the management of common care mode, the rate of poor glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), rate of poor blood pressure and LDL-C of type 2 diabetes patients have improved. Conclusions The co-care model effectively improves cardiometabolic outcomes of blood glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes. The co-care model was associated with significant improvements in glycemic control and other cardiometabolic parameters among T2DM patients over one year. Higher patient engagement, particularly through combined online and offline activities, was strongly linked to better glycemic outcomes. These findings support the clinical value and potential for broader implementation of the integrated co-care model in diabetes management.