[Effectiveness of an intensive treatment and training program for patients with type I diabetes mellitus]

The authors analyze the results of comprehensive, prospective, controlled investigation of the program for intensive care and training of 121 patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). The basic principles of the program are training on a team's basis, intensive insulin therapy, auto-monitoring of metabolism, and liberal diet. The results demonstrate that glycemia level approaching the normal may be attained and maintained in the majority of patients without increasing the risk of grave hypoglycemia, cases with severe diabetic ketoacidosis may be eliminated, and periods of temporary invalidity of patients reduced by 7-10 times. The selected training program was equally effective for patients of various age groups and levels of education, as well as for patients with "labile" diabetes. Results of treatment did not depend on the type of insulin preparations used. The authors come to a conclusion on a higher efficacy of new strategy of IDDM treatment in comparison with the traditional approaches.