Related Experiment Videos
Continuity of care, self-management behaviors, and glucose control in patients with type 2 diabetes
Michael L Parchman1, Jacqueline A Pugh, Polly Hitchcock Noël
1Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA. parchman@uthscsa.edu
Background:
The influence of continuity of care on outcomes of care for patients with type 2 diabetes is poorly understood.
Objective:
To examine the relationships between continuity, glucose control, and advancement through stages of change for self-management behaviors.
Design:
Prospective cohort study.
Setting:
Five community health centers on the Texas-Mexico border.
Subjects:
A random sample of 256 adults, 18 years of age and older with an established diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.
Measures:
Stage of change for diet and exercise were assessed during two patient interviews, averaging 18.9 months apart. Phlebotomy was performed at each interview to measure glycosolated hemoglobin (HbA1C). Medical records were abstracted for ambulatory care utilization. A continuity score was calculated based on the number of visits and number of providers seen.
Results:
Patients who advanced one or more stages of change for diet had higher levels of continuity. As continuity improved, the change in HbA1C was smaller. (r = -0.25; P <0.001) This relationship remained significant after controlling for number of visits, months since diagnosis, number of days in the study, duration of diabetes, and advancement in stage of change for diet. Advancement through stage of change for diet explained a significant amount of the variance in the relationship between continuity and HbA1C (t test = -11.33; P <0.01).
Conclusions:
Continuity of care with a primary care provider is associated with better glucose control among patients with type 2 diabetes. This relationship appears to be mediated by changes in patient behavior regarding diet.
Related Concept Videos
Diabetes: Management and Pharmacotherapy
Insulin remains the cornerstone of treatment for most patients with type 1 and many...
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
Diabetes Mellitus: Overview and Type I Subtype
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient insulin, and individuals with...
Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications
Carbohydrate Metabolism
Starch accounts for approximately 60% of the carbohydrates consumed by humans. Since amylase enzymes cannot function in the stomach's acidic environment, starch can only be digested in the mouth and small intestine. Simple sugars are found naturally in milk and fruits in the...
Type II Diabetes Mellitus III: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis