Impact of nurse-based WhatsApp Counselling on diabetes medication adherence, severity of adverse drug reactions and hypoglycemic / hyperglycemic complications, among type 2 diabetes patients at a tertiary care hospital in Sri Lanka: a randomized controlled study

INTERVENTION: 1. Study setting: Colombo North Teaching Hospital‐University Medical Unit medical clinics. 2. Method of randomization: a. Block randomization. 1:1 ratio. Block size 2. b. Unit of randomization: Patient unique identity number c. Method of sequence generation:Using a computer software program that generates the random sequence 3. Intervention: A "live" counselling session delivered through WhatsApp by a “Diabetes Education Nursing Officer”. The intervention will take up 15 minutes. It will include information about diabetes medication and their side effects, healthy eating, exercise, and complications of diabetes. At the end of the intervention patient questions will be entertained and answered by the nursing officer. 4. Standard care: Diabetes education provided by the medical officers in the medical clinic during their clerking. No blinding CONDITION: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus PRIMARY OUTCOME: The adherence of diabetic patients to their medication regimen will be assessed using the Medication Adherence Rating Scale (MARS). [At intervals of 1 month and 3 months following the intervention]; SECONDARY OUTCOME: Frequency of hypoglycaemic/ hyperglycaemic complications and severity of adverse drug reactions.; Hypoglycemia: Both self‐reported symptoms of hypoglycemia and home/clinic blood sugar measurements (Random blood sugar <70mg/dl). ; ; Hyperglycemia: Home/clinic blood sugar measurements (Fasting blood sugar >126 mg/dl and post prandial blood sugar >200 mg/dl). [At intervals of 1 month and 3 months following the intervention]; INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes for >5 years. 2. Age >18 years. 3. Being a registered patient in the university medical unit clinics. 4. Having a prescription of pharmacological treatment for type 2 diabetes. 5. Being a user of WhatsApp application and an owner of a smart phone.