Effects of health education on glycemic control during holiday time in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether the effects of regular diabetes health education or a holiday-specific pamphlet before the Chinese New Year holiday period could improve glycemic control during the winter holidays among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.


METHODS
Randomized controlled trial.


METHODS
The study was conducted from October 2004 to December 2005 in Taipei Veterans General Hospital. Subjects were randomized to program 1 (receipt of regular diabetes education between October 20 and November 25, 2004, and then every 3-4 months) or to program 2 (receipt of a special reminder pamphlet during the holidays). The patients were seen and blood samples obtained on 4 occasions during the holidays and then every 4 months through December 2005.


RESULTS
Ninety-three subjects completed the first 4 visits during the Chinese New Year holidays, and 89 subjects completed 12 months of the study. Fructosamine levels in program 1 increased more during the preholiday period than those in program 2 (mean [standard deviation] 7.4 [5.2] vs -5.3 [8.3] mumol/L, P = .03) during the preholiday period. Changes in fructosamine levels during the holiday and postholiday periods were similar in the 2 groups. At the end of the holidays, changes in glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) levels were 0.34% (95% confidence interval, 0.03%-0.85%) in program 1 and 0.09% (95% confidence interval, -0.23% to 0.42%) in program 2. After the Chinese New Year holidays, the groups had similar changes in A1C levels, with a slight downward decline thereafter.


CONCLUSIONS
A special educational reminder pamphlet for the holidays led to improvements in glycemic control during the Chinese New Year holidays.
Chen
Harn-Shen
HS
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Wu
Tzu-En
TE
Jap
Tjin-Shing
TS
Chen
Ru-Lin
RL
Lin
Hong-Da
HD
D000368:Aged; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001835:Body Weight; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D019270:Fructosamine / Q000097:blood; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006693:Holidays; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010174:Pamphlets; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012648:Self Care; D013624:Taiwan; D014728:Veterans / Q000523:psychology*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D019270:Fructosamine; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin