Evaluation of a diabetes education programme

An education programme was evaluated for 140 insulin-dependent diabetics and their family members from 1978 to 1980. Dietary, biochemical and other assessments were made before and 6 months after the programme. As a group, the diabetics were initially in good metabolic control and this was maintained, or improved, over the study period. The programme recommended a diet in which complex carbohydrate constituted at least 45% of energy intake and fat was limited to 30%. The diabetics and their family members significantly increased their consumption of complex carbohydrate and decreased fat intake. On this regimen, diabetics did not gain weight and their relatives lost weight. There were also improvements in knowledge of the disorder and in perceptions of susceptibility to complications and barriers to compliance.