title: The effect of an intensive education programme on the glycaemic control of type I diabetic patients.
abstract: The effect of patient education on glycaemic control in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus was assessed in 20 patients selected from the Diabetes Clinic, Groote Schuur Hospital. Education in all aspects of self-care was given to small groups of between 5 and 7 patients. Biochemical tests including measurement of fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), were performed during a 6-week 'control' period before the educational course, and again during a 6-week 'test' period after it. The mean HbA1c fell from 10.05 +/- 0.43% at the end of the control period to 8.47 +/- 0.25% at the end of the test period (P less than 0.001). FBG levels dropped from 13.53 +/- 0.84 mmol/l at the commencement of the study to 10.83 +/- 1.29 mmol/l before the educational course, and to 9.41 +/- 0.72 mmol/l at the completion of the study. We therefore conclude that intensive education of this nature is of benefit in improving glycaemic control, at least in the short term.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin