title: An assessment of structured care assistance in the management of patients with type 2 diabetes in general practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study differences in diabetes-related parameters in type 2 diabetic patients treated with the support of a Diabetes Service compared to conventional general practice care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Parallel clinical trial with randomisation at practice level.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen general practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Type 2 diabetic patients, aged < 76 years, treated by a GP.
  
  
  METHODS
  Level of glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c).
  
  
  RESULTS
  246 patients entered the study. Final mean HbA1c of all evaluable patients allocated to the intervention (n = 84) was 7.1+/-1.2%, vs 7.5+/-1.8% in the controls (n = 140) (p = 0.06). Patients who were initially poorly controlled (Fasting Blood Glucose > 10 mmol/l) had a significantly lower final HbA1c if they were in an intervention practice (p=0.001). Fewer patients in intervention practices were referred to hospital specialists (1 vs 14).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Support by the Dutch Diabetes Service did not significantly influence glycated haemoglobin. The subgroup of initially poorly controlled patients developed a significantly lower HbA1c in intervention practices (supported by a Diabetes Service) than in control practices.
authors: Department of General Practice, Leiden University Medical Centre, The Netherlands. y.groeneveld@lumc.nl
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Groeneveld
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Petri
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Hermans
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Springer
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012944:Social Support
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin