title: Adherence to Two Methods of Education and Metabolic Control in Type 2 Diabetics.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Education in diabetes optimizes metabolic control, prevents acute and chronic complications, and improves quality of life. Our main objective was to evaluate if a better metabolic control is achieved in diabetic patients undergoing a program of intensive interactive care than in those with traditional care and written information.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), aged 20-60 years, education level at least of primary school, serum creatinine ≤ 2.5 mg/dl, self-sufficient and HbA1c ≥ 7.1% were allocated in two groups of education, 1) minimal education (MEG) and 2) full education (FEG). The MEG patients followed predefined diet; FEG patients chose the diet by selecting foods from each group in a list of matches, teaching them to count nutrients, kilocalories (kcal) and percentage of nutrients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A follow-up of 31 patients in each group was obtained. The proportion of patients who had initial adherence was 13.33% in the MEG group and 9.67% in the FEG group while, at the end of the study, these percentages were of 73.3% and 58.38% respectively. The final HbA1c decreased in both groups, with or without good adherence. The FEG group had a higher decline in the values of cholesterol (p = 0.036) and LDL (p = 0.002) than the MEG group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Education programs in T2DM contribute to a decrease in HbA1c within six months, but an intensive program is more effective in reducing cholesterol and LDL.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, Autonomous University of the State of Mexico (UAEMex).
authors.forename: Verónica R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez Herrera
authors.affiliation: Asociación Científica Latina A.C. (ASCILA) and Ciprés Grupo Médico (CGM).
authors.forename: Hugo Mendieta
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Zerón
authors.affiliation: Diabetes Clinic, Regional Hospital "Gral. Ignacio Zaragoza", ISSSTE.
authors.forename: Martha R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Mendieta Alcántara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D003927:Diet, Diabetic / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D012648:Self Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol; D003404:Creatinine; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human
keywords: diabetes mellitus; education; metabolic control