The effectiveness of a community-based online low-glycaemic index diet and lifestyle recommendations intervention for people with type 2 diabetes: a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: The community health workers (CHWs)-led model is an important strategy for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in China. However, existing community-based dietary and health education interventions in diabetes management are insufficient. Meanwhile, emerging mobile health (mHealth) has emerged as a promising tool for improving disease management. Current evidence on the combined efficacy of mHealth technologies and CHWs strategies remains limited. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluates the effectiveness of an online dietary and health education intervention delivered through a tertiary hospital's WeChat official account (WOA) for T2DM patients, examining its influence on glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels, body mass index (BMI), serum lipid profiles, and diabetes-specific quality of life (DSQL). METHODS: This randomized clinical trial was conducted in two community health centers in China, enrolling adults diagnosed with T2DM. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups over 3 months. The control group received standard care, while the intervention group accessed online low glycaemic index (GI) dietary and lifestyle recommendations via the WOA. This group was instructed to monitor blood glucose levels, upload daily dietary photos, review health education notifications, and participate in real-time communication with the diabetes management team via the WOA. RESULTS: ; p < 0.001), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (mean 2.38, SD 0.21 mmol/L; p < 0.001), and DSQL scores (mean 43.24, SD 7.23; P < 0.001), whereas high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (mean 1.35, SD 0.37 mmol/L; p = 0.001) was significantly higher. Subgroup analysis at 3 months showed that age, education, disease duration, comorbidity, and BMI influenced the effectiveness of HbA1c reduction. CONCLUSION: Overall, the WOA-based intervention effectively engages patients in community diabetes management, leading to improved glycemic control, weight reduction, lipid metabolism optimization, and better quality of life. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ChiCTR2400081045.