The effect of an intensive education programme on the glycaemic control of type I diabetic patients

The effect of patient education on glycaemic control in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus was assessed in 20 patients selected from the Diabetes Clinic, Groote Schuur Hospital. Education in all aspects of self-care was given to small groups of between 5 and 7 patients. Biochemical tests including measurement of fasting blood glucose (FBG) and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c), were performed during a 6-week 'control' period before the educational course, and again during a 6-week 'test' period after it. The mean HbA1c fell from 10.05 +/- 0.43% at the end of the control period to 8.47 +/- 0.25% at the end of the test period (P less than 0.001). FBG levels dropped from 13.53 +/- 0.84 mmol/l at the commencement of the study to 10.83 +/- 1.29 mmol/l before the educational course, and to 9.41 +/- 0.72 mmol/l at the completion of the study. We therefore conclude that intensive education of this nature is of benefit in improving glycaemic control, at least in the short term.