Diabetes education and behavioural interventions may help improve blood sugar regulation for patients with poorly controlled diabetes, according to three new studies published online in the Archives of Internal Medicine .
For the first study, Katie Weinger, Ed.D., from the Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston, and colleagues investigated the efficacy of a behavioural intervention for improving long-term glycemic control .
Over 200 adults who had been struggling with their diabetes management for years were randomly put into a structured behavioural group, a group control, or an individual control for six months.
The structured behavioural group showed significantly greater improvement in three-month hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) concentration changes. Participants with type 2 diabetes experienced greater improvement than those with type 1 diabetes.
In the second study, experts from the HealthPartners Medical Group in Minneapolis compared group and individual education with usual care for type 2 diabetics and HbA1c of at least 7 per cent.
The mean HbA1c concentration decreased in the education treatment groups, but significantly more so in those receiving individual education rather than group education.
In the final study, scientists based at the Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute in California randomly gave socially and economically disadvantaged patients an intervention package of video behaviour support with a workbook and telephone coaching from a diabetes nurse, or a 20-page brochure from the US National Diabetes Education Program.
At the end of the research, there was a significant overall reduction in mean HbA1c levels from baseline to six months, but the differences between the two groups were not significant.
JoAnn Sperl-Hillen, M.D., from the HealthPartners Medical Group, concluded: "Individual education for patients with established suboptimally controlled diabetes resulted in better glucose control outcomes than did group education ."
Diabetes Education Improves Glycemic Control
Fri, 14 Oct 2011
Recommended links
Diabetes in IndiaDiabetes guides
Diabetes treatments
Type 2 Diabetes medicines
Diabetes food and diet tips
Diabetes self help measures
Diabetes management tools
Diabetes complications
Nutritional Experts Plan To Fortify Milk To Combat Diabetes
First Diabetes-Cholesterol Combo Drug Gets FDA Approval
New Research Could Pave Way For Future Diabetes Pill
Men More Prone To Diabetes Than Women
Fast Eaters Much More Likely To Develop Diabetes
Frequent Doctor Visits Could Improve Diabetes Control
