Limited English proficiency (LEP) is associated with numerous health disparities, including poorer glycemic control in LEP patients with diabetes.1 In this issue, Njeru et al. 2 report findings from a systematic review and meta-analysis of diabetes self-management education (DSME) interventions in LEP populations. In their meta-analysis, DSME interventions were associated with a significant lower hemoglobin A1c (− 0.84% [95% CI, − 0.97 to − 0.71]) than usual care. Interventions lasting less than 6 months and using in-person delivery were more likely to demonstrate improvements in hemoglobin A1c. Improvements in self-efficacy, quality of life, and several other measures were also reported.

This systematic review and meta-analysis is the first to examine the impact of DSME in LEP populations, and includes a sizable number of articles. The clinically significant reduction in hemoglobin A1c and positive effects on self-efficacy and quality of life are encouraging findings that are consistent with prior meta-analyses of DSME’s effect in the general population 3 and in racial and ethnic minority groups.4 The study also has several notable limitations. Nearly half of the included studies were non-randomized designs. Additionally, none of the interventions enrolled exclusively LEP participants, and for nearly half of included studies, LEP participation rates were “inferred” from demographics tables or the article text. Furthermore, nearly all studies (94%) offered LEP accommodations, such as language-concordant staff or translated materials, but it was unclear which accommodations were most helpful to participants. Finally, the overall heterogeneity of the interventions, including delivery methods and intensity, precludes conclusions about the most effective DSME designs for LEP populations.

The findings from Njeru et al. 2 suggest fruitful avenues for future research. Overall, the LEP population in the USA is very linguistically and culturally heterogeneous with substantial variations in country of origin, education level, and socioeconomic status.5 Development and evaluation of DSME for specific LEP sub-populations would strengthen the evidence for DSME’s impact on LEP participants and clarify the most effective intervention components for different groups. For clinicians and health educators, understanding their local LEP populations and working with community partners is critical to designing linguistically and culturally appropriate DSME to meet the needs of this vulnerable population.