The relationship between patient education and glycaemic control in a South African township.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate if there is a relationship between patients' perceived diabetes education and their glycaemic control.


METHODS
Two hundred and forty-seven diabetic (both DM 1 and DM 2) patients who were treated for diabetes in a primary nurse led health care clinic in South Africa were analyzed. Patients were interviewed, and information was retrieved from the patients' medical record.


RESULTS
Fasting blood glucose levels were <7.0 mmol/l in 17.6% of the patients, 79.3% of the patients had a BMI>2788.2% of the patients received information about diabetes, the majority received information from the nurse. Patients with a higher educational level and patients who received education tended to have a better glycaemic control. (n.s.) Significantly more patients who received information had a good or acceptable FBG level (p=0.03). The recorded prevalence of chronic complications was low.


CONCLUSIONS
Glycaemic control was suboptimal in the big majority of patients. Education had a positive effect on glycaemic control, albeit not impressive. Also in South Africa poor health literacy should be taken into account in diabetes education.
van de Sande
Marloes
M
Faculty of Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. M.vandesande@students.uu.nl
Dippenaar
Hanneke
H
Rutten
Guy E H M
GE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin