The effect of group clinics in the control of diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
Novel interventions are needed for long-term maintenance of diabetes control. We studied the effects of a group diabetes clinic (GDC) on diabetes control when compared to usual care with primary care providers (PCP).


METHODS
Data from the electronic medical records of 56 patients were collected. Twenty-nine patients were in the group diabetes clinic (GDC) while 27 patients followed with their PCP. Outcome variables, A1c, LDL, and blood pressure (BP) were measured at baseline and every 6 months for a 2 year period.


RESULTS
A1c, LDL and BP were no different at the end of 2 years in the GDC cohort and the PCP cohort. Slight upward trend in time was detected for A1c in both groups, but more so in the PCP group.


CONCLUSIONS
GDC can lead to maintenance of diabetes control in a population with difficult to manage diabetes as effectively as and more efficiently than usual care.
Desouza
Cyrus V
CV
University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, 68105, United States. cdesouza@unmc.edu
Rentschler
Lindsey
L
Haynatzki
Gleb
G
D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006126:Group Processes; D006801:Humans; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D015415:Biomarkers; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D008077:Lipoproteins, LDL; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human