Structured type 1 diabetes education delivered within routine care: Impact on glycemic control and diabetes-specific quality of life

Abstract

OBJECTIVE-To determine whether improvements in glycemic control and diabetes-specific quality of life (QoL) scores reported in research studies for the type 1 diabetes structured education program Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating (DAFNE) are also found when the intervention is delivered within routine U.K. health care. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS-Before and after evaluation of DAFNE to assess impact on glycemic control and QoL among 262 adults with type 1 diabetes. RESULTS-There were significant improvements in HbA1c from baseline to 6 and 12 months (from 9.1 to 8.6 and 8.8%, respectively) in a subgroup with suboptimal control. QoL was significantly improved by 3 months and maintained at both follow-up points. CONCLUSIONS-Longer-term improved glycemic control and QoL is achievable among adults with type 1 diabetes through delivery of structured education in routine care, albeit with smaller effect sizes than reported in trials.© 2013 by the American Diabetes Association.