PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES:

The purpose of this integrative review is to examine the effectiveness of case management for improving health outcomes in patients with diabetes mellitus as found in the literature from 2000 to 2010.

PRIMARY PRACTICE SETTING:

Diabetes case management in health care settings.

FINDINGS/CONCLUSIONS:

Case management is an effective intervention for glycemic control and is cost-effective. Evidence is building for its use in primary care.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CASE MANAGEMENT PRACTICE:

Case management can be an important intervention for diabetes care in primary care and community settings. With evidence at the level of rigor of randomized controlled trials, case management significantly improved biophysiological, psychosocial, preventive, and adherence outcomes. Thus, case management can be an important aspect of effectiveness in health care services delivery within a reconfigured delivery system.