Diabetes Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Diabetes, including details on insulin, type i, type ii, diet, treatment, prevention.

Effects of a diabetes self-management program on glycemic control, coronary heart disease risk, and quality of life among Thai patients with type 2 diabetes.

Wattana C, Srisuphan W, Pothiban L, Upchurch SL

Faculty of Nursing, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand. chodchoiwattana@yahoo.com

Uncontrolled diabetes is a major health problem in Thailand. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of a diabetes self-management program on glycemic control, coronary heart disease (CHD) risk, and quality of life in 147 diabetic patients (aged 56.8 +/- 10.2 years). Type 2 diabetic patients who met the research criteria were randomized into two groups for a period of 6 months: the experimental group received the diabetes self-management program and the control group received the usual nursing care. The findings indicated that the experimental group demonstrated a significant decrease in the hemoglobin A(1c) level and CHD risk, with an increase in quality of life (QOL) compared to the control group. The diabetes self-management program was effective for improving metabolic control and the QOL for individuals with diabetes. Further studies should be replicated using larger groups over a longer time frame.

Published 1 May 2007 in Nurs Health Sci, 9(2): 135-41.
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