Structured diabetes education for patients is a cornerstone for therapy; it empowers the patients by giving them appropriate tools for self-management of the illness. 

The objective of this work is to determine how Substance Use Disorder (SUD) influences the outcome of structured diabetes education in patients with Type 2 diabetes, and whether patients with SUD are less likely to benefit much because of their addiction issues. Only clinical trials involving substance use, which were randomized, in the context of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) were included. The patients were both adult men and women. Ideal practice of only including randomized controlled trials was followed, in order to provide quality to this dissertation.

Literature was only available for alcohol use disorder, and there were no studies available on any of other recreational substance use disorders and its effects on structured diabetes education. 

Out of three relevant studies, in context of alcohol use disorder, two studies identified alcohol use by the patients as a limiting factor in receiving the structured diabetes education. One study did not show any impact of alcohol on structured diabetes education.

More high quality randomised controlled trials with better sample size are required, in order to say with confidence if alcohol use affects the patient’s ability to participate in structured educational programme for Type 2 diabetes management. Certainly, it would be useful to include patients with Substance Use Disorder and recreational drug use in the study sample, and account for them.

Meanwhile, it would be prudent to provide extra support to patients with Substance Use Disorder, when they are engaged in treatment for their physical health issues.

What is the outcome of structured education in Type 2 DM in people with addiction issues: a systematic review