The influence of a program of structured diabetes education on the glycemic control and quality of life during transition of the patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus to insulin pump therapy with continuous real-time monitoring blood glucose leve
Aim of the study. To estimate the effectiveness of the new program of structured diabetes education for the groups of the patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1) during their transition to sensor-augmented pump (SAP) therapy in terms of improvement of the glycemic control and quality of life (QL). Material and methods. The study included 35 patients presenting with DM1: 14 men, mean age 26.5 years (24; 36). The patients were divided into two groups. Those in the study group received a structured diabetes education (n=19), those in the control group were given conventional education (n=16). The patients of group 1 were transferred to SAP therapy in the framework of group education based on the specialized structured program. The education of control patients was carried out on an individual basis in the previous period at the places of residence. Quality of life and emotional well-being were estimated with the use of the validated Russian versions of the SF-36, ADDQoL, and WB-Q12 questionnaires. The effectiveness of glycemic control and QL were evaluated within 4 months after the completion of education and transition to SAP. Results. The patients of both groups were not initially different in the HbA1c level: 8.1 (8.0; 9.2) versus 8.8 (7.7; 9.0) (p>0.05). The HbA1c level: decreased in the two groups within 4 months after the initiation of SAP therapy: 7.3 (6.3; 7.8) versus 8.0 (6.3; 8.5) (p>0.05). The decrease was more pronounced in the group of the patients who received the structured diabetes education than in the control group (p=0.036). The patients transferred to SAP in the framework of the structured education program tended to have higher indices of QL and emotional well-being than the patients given the standard education. Conclusion. The use of the specialized structured program for the education for the groups of the patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus during transition to SAP therapy results not only in a more pronounced improvement of glycemic control indices but also in the positive changes of certain QL characteristics.