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Improved glycaemic control--an unintended benefit of a nurse-led cardiovascular risk reduction clinic
A Woodward1, M Wallymahmed, J Wilding
1The Walden Diabetes Centre, University Hospital Aintree, Liverpool, UK. ann@butterfield4.demon.co.uk
Aims:
One hundred and ten patients with Type 2 diabetes were referred into a nurse-led cardiovascular risk reduction clinic. The primary aim of the clinic was to optimize blood pressure (BP) control and address cardiovascular risk factors.
Methods:
Those attending outpatient clinics were referred into a nurse-led cardiovascular risk reduction clinic if BP was above 140/85 mmHg. There was no intervention strategy designed in the nurse clinic protocol to improve glycaemic control.
Results:
Following attendance at the clinic, there was a significant improvement in HbA1c noted when patients were reviewed 9 months later. HbA1c improved from 8.7 +/- 1.6 to 8.1% +/- 1.6% (P < 0.001) in the whole cohort. Further analysis showed that, after excluding those who had received intervention to improve glycaemic control from another source, during the same period there remained a significant improvement in the non-intervention group of patients.
Conclusion:
Frequent regular contact and health education in a nurse-led clinic to reduce cardiovascular risk may improve HbA1c in the absence of any specific intervention to improve glycaemic control.
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