Evaluating the Effect of Mental Health Nurse-Led Integrated Care on Glycemic Control and Depression in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes A Quasi-Experimental Study

Abstract

Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and comorbid depression face bidirectional challenges, as poor glycemic control exacerbates depressive symptoms and vice versa. Research demonstrates that integrated care works, but healthcare systems commonly treat these conditions separately since resource restrictions exist. This quasi-experimental study evaluated the effectiveness of a 12-week mental health nurse-led integrated care intervention on glycemic control (HbA1c) and depression (PHQ-9 scores) in adults with T2DM and moderate-to-severe depression. Sixty participants aged 30–65 joined the study by being assigned to one of two groups, with thirty participants each. The intervention group received psychoeducation, motivational interviewing, self-care education, and weekly follow-ups through nurses. The control group received standard care only. The study evaluated HbA1c and PHQ-9 scores at the beginning of the research and after 12 weeks. The research used paired t-tests to assess alterations within individual study groups (p<0.05 determined statistical significance. The participants in the intervention group experienced major improvements in HbA1c levels (1.1% ± 0.5, P  < 0.001), together with PHQ-9 score reductions (6.7 ± 2.3, P < 0.001), achieving clinically beneficial thresholds among 80% and 83.3% of participants. The HbA1c of controls remained within normal levels (0.1% ± 0.3, p =0.320) alongside PHQ-9 scores (0.4 ± 1.2, p =0.650). Only 16.7% and 13.3% of controls met the clinical criteria for improvement. The intervention group participants achieved more consistent outcomes after receiving their health services. Patients with T2DM benefit strongly from the combined interventions of mental health nursing integration. This leads to better blood sugar management and depression symptom control beyond conventional care methods. The approach respects ADA recommendations for complete diabetes patient care while providing managers of limited resources with an adaptable model.